TRAILS OF AMBERGRIS

Very interesting symphonic prog band from Italy. they have obviously strong influences from a lot of those great 70´s groups that made that country famous among prog lovers (PFM, Le Orme, Banco, etc), plus some hints of early Marillion, and a little italian folk here and there. It is my first entry into the Yleclipse universe, so I can´t compare Trails Of Ambergris to their previous works. However, it is easy to conclude after only one hearing that this is surely a fine CD with great symphonic moments. Those 70´s influenced keyboards are a pleasure to hear, but the sound is not retro per se. There is an interesting and modern feeling on the CD as a whole.

The major flaw on Trails Of Ambergris is the production: it is adequade but only barely. For this kind of music they would benefit with a better mixing and mastering. Still, this is only a detail since the music is very powerful and shines all through the CD. Alessio Guerrero voice is very unique and kind of aquaring the taste, but he is a gifted artist. His guitar playing is also very interesting varying from delicate and melodic to some metallic riffs once in a while. The other band members are equally skilled and sometimes is hard to believe they are just four musicians making all those noises. It os a long CD (over 73 minutes), but there are no fillers.

Conclusion: one damn good CD! If you´re into italian prog music with lots of 70´s sounds then Trails of Ambergris is a must have. I wouldn´t call it a masterpiece but it is an excellent addition to any prog music collection.

Trails and hints of 70's RPI . . .

The Yleclipse--formerly Eclisse--started in 1998 and still boast the founding four member lineup. They list their main influences as medieval music, classic rock, and Celtish music (particularly Irish and Scottish). The band states that they continually push boundaries of their own music, trying to incorporate new ideas that they discover in their musical research. (This information from the band's website.) The result is an eclectic mix of old and new, of experiment and accessibility.

I have to agree with Tarcisio's review--this is a wonderful modern Italian album that often hearkens back to the 70's heyday. The bands first three albums are squarely in the neo-prog category, and while this album is more varied and interesting than the others they have not completely shed the neo-prog tendencies. Rather, they have combined the strengths of neo- with some of the appealing characteristics of RPI. For example on this album more than their previous ones, the compositions are varied, at times complex, always melodic. In fact a strong sense of melody, along with great interplay between guitar and keyboards are the strengths of this album. My favorite track is "Arcontes Merees Karaleos," which is an instrumental featuring layers of acoustic guitars augmented by keyboards, bass, and drums, and is probably the song most reminiscent of the RPI heyday.

Like Tarcisio, I feel that the biggest weakness is the production. However, I don't worry too much about that when the music is great! The vocals are so-so and are in English, which also lessens the impact, but again can be overlooked because of the great music.

This is a great effort, a wonderful example of modern sounds with hints of RPI. Three and a half stars, rounded down to three.

English lyrics, neo-prog music ("Wind- Tanned Horses") with some symphonic elements ("Sacred Healing Light") or some fine medieval little piece ("Charlotte's Dream") are available on this album from the Italian band "Yleclipse".

All this is well crafted although vocals are below average. But since Alessio Guerrero is in charge of that department from the very beginning of the band, there is nothing new under the sky.

Instrumental sections are by far the most interesting ones like during the wonderful introduction of the title track (also a constant remark throughout their discography): guitar is often emotional but at the end of the day it sounds as a second tier "Pendragon" as far as I'm concerned.

This is also a lengthy album which would have gained if cut by fifteen minutes or so. Anyway, if you fancy to listen to an early "Marillion" clone, why not give it a try to this work. As such it is not too bad (except weak vocals overall) but don't expect the fantasy and complexity of genuine Italian prog bands. But there is nothing wrong with this.

The long and closing "The Day The Wooden Leopard Roared" is a perfect summary of the whole album: good neo prog music, delicate guitar and a bit more synths than usual. A good song. As the album.

Three stars.

Trails of Ambergris is their forth album issued at same Mellow records in 2008 is another worthy album from their catalogue, and is their final one 'till today. As I said on previous reviw from Opus , that I have a soft spot for this band, thie album to me is their best so far and one of the most pleasent and enjoyble neo prog album I've heared in last years. Quite underrated in my opinion, Trails of Ambergris has all the high point of the previous album and even more excellent ideas added. Perfect musicianship, instrumental passages are very well performed, with rich arrangements, again long pieces with very good guitar parts. Complex neo prog, with some symphonic touches and aswell some celtic folk, some '70's prog influences on this release like PFM, Steve Hackett, Genesis, some Marillion, but in the end the album turn to be a very enjoyble one. Wind-tanned Horses, is a perfect example of how great this band is, the instrumental Arcontes Merees Karaleos and the best pieces to me The slower, long pieces, varied compostions, complex arrangenets, like a progressive rock album must be, I like alot this kind of neo prog, with guitar shining on every piece, fascinating keybords melting with the rest of the instruments, no weak moments , only great and inventive part s from Yleclipse. Again 4 stars for this unnoticed band with moderate succes to prog listners, for sure Yleclipse needs a far more wider exposure to public because they are a fantastic band from this genre, far better then most of so called important bands from neo zone, I was very pleasent surprised. Excellent cover art, that mediaval like drawing is very catchy and goes hand in hand with the album music melodic and in same time quite complex. This album like previous one goes recommened from me, I don't really know why are so low rated, these two releases are a great example of how must sound and be played neo prog these days.

There are always bands and albums that give you the feeling of "love on first sight (listening)" simply because they match with your taste 100%. Those cases in which you don't have to listen at least 5 times to make up your mind what you think of them. But they're simple there, the real deal for you as if they were especially made for you. And here we have an example of that. Yleclipse latest from 2008 is the real deal for me.

And the explanation is simple: long extended instrumental (mainly guitar) solos that seem to go on and on and in flawless style and execution. The title track is a great example of what I mean but so are in fact all (5) long tracks. Yleclipse simple have the right formula for my preference.

So an obvious 5 star case you would think but alas not. The vocals spoil some of the fun for me and have to prevent me to give the highest score. But it's close, 4.5 is the least it deserves but I will have to round down here. An average of 3.4 and 11 ratings in total so far is a way too low score in both respects. So at least I can do my part here in giving this release a bit of a boost. And what's most important: it's so well deserved. Extremely recommended for neofans who dig the long guitarsolos that simply never grow dull in this case. So go for it and check it out at least !

After ''Opus'' Yleclipse had to face the departure of original drummer Roberto Diomedi, while keyboardist Andrea Picciau decided to relocate in Milano.The band even flirted with dissolution, but with a good organized program they started the recordings of a new album in Cagliari, now featuring new member Federico Bacco behind the drum kit.With the support of Mellow Records, now renamed to The Yleclipse, the talented Italian quartet returned in 2008 with ''Trails of Ambergris'', an album dealing with the failed attempt by the French Navy to capture Sardinia at the fall of the 18th century.

Despite the problems aforementioned, The Yleclipse managed to come up with some great Neo/Symphonic Prog material once again.All tracks are nicely developed with great melodic parts, haunting symphonic keyboards, dramatic atmospheres and sharp guitar solos, using the theatrical side of MARILLION along with the symphonic tradition of Italian Prog as performed by bands such as PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI, IL CASTELLO DI ATLANTE or SITHONIA.The album contains numerous changes between tempos and atmospheres, forwarding the melodic side of Neo Prog and the atmospheric Symphonic Rock arrangements.Another memorable performance delivered by Alessio Guerriero on vocals, who's voice recalls FISH at its best.The sound overall ranges from powerful and very rich themes with full-blown prog workouts to MARILLION-eque deeply atmospheric instrumental soundscapes to Classical-inspired keyboard interludes with lots of harmonic passages.

Another winner by this great Italian group.Not as good as the previous album, but definitely well-performed and quite passionate Progressive Rock.Strongly recommended to all fans of Italian Prog, Neo Prog and Symphonic Rock...3.5 stars.

This is a very, very impressive neo-prog CD. It has that intangible quality that allows it to grow better and better with each listen. The musicianship throughout is amazing and I simply could not ask for more to feed my neo-prog habit. The ONLY negative I can report here is the mix is unfortunately lacking in the low end, giving the overall sound a harshness that detracts a bit from the immersion and costs a star in my book. Their subsequent release Songs from the Crackling Atanor corrects this problem completely and is equally as awesome as this one.