IL SALE SULLA CODA

Your typical average 90's Italian prog , like so many hundreds of them came out in those times. This one has rather evident Gentle Giant influences but mainly in the vocals department. It sounds nothing exceptional and it has been a long time since I played it. I think it is on the outgoing mail bundle: If anybody is interested in a swap , get in touch.

"Il Sale Sulla Coda" is another example of contemporary Italian progressive music: modern sound but inspiration from '70s Italy classic bands. There's a visible influence from JETHRO TULL too, specially through the important role of flute, and GENTLE GIANT in the vocal games.

Along the six tracks, music changes from energy to acoustic soundscapes, adding some folk elements and even neo prog cliches, but everything inside the typical Italian elegance and melodic sense.

"La Storia Del Contrasto" is an energetic song, with guitar and flute strongly interplaying. "Genesi" and "Malati Di Un Dio" are the longest tracks, both showing lots of rythmical variations. "I Musicanti" has some folkish sounds, being listener transported to a medieval market. Keyboards appear in "Se Io Sogno", and the album closes with the homonymous highlight "Il Sale Sulla Coda", a beautiful and nostalgic song.

Summarizing, LOTHLORIEN's effort is a very nice album. Not in the high standard as another Italian contemporary bands (i.e. LA TORRE DELL'ALCHIMISTA), but really enjoyable.

Coming from the small city of Recanati in the region of Marche,LOTHLORIEN were a one- shot band,recording and performing at the end of the 90's.Being a sextet,they had a quite rich sound and their only album "Il Sale Sulla Coda" was relesaed in 2003 on Lizard Records,an Italian label specialized on obscure contemporary (mainly Italian) prog bands,featuring a romantic cover of an Italian street.

STYLE: A wide range of influences and varied music styles make the album a challenging experience.You can listen moments of jazz-tinged progressive rock,modern Heavy Rock,even some Folk influences and mellow flute-driven Symphonic Rock in almost every track.Vocals are quite good,though not something extraordinary or fairly different.The musicianship can be quite complex and adventuruous,while the next moment it turns to pastoral and ethereal.The production is very clear and the six tracks are in the same good level.

INFLUENCES/SOUNDS LIKE: The heavier parts include expressive vocals and complex passages with some prominent flutes and a mixed bag of JETHRO TULL,early- OSANNA,AREA and DEUS EX MACHINA is as good description.The calmer passages are very close to what PFM offered some three decades ago:Delicate flute combined with a steady rhythm section and acoustic guitars full of melody and inspiration.

PLUS: The greatest thing about this band is the fact that almost every track contains the mixed bag of different influences aforementioned,no matter how long or short it is.The heavy flute parts come almost out of a seminar,some parts are trully inspired.The fine production and balanced mixing are considered also a plus by my side.A touch of their own personality is also a good thing.

MINUS: This variety of musical ideas seems not to head somewhere at moments with the band caught in the labyrinth of their complexity.Some parts also seem musically rather abstract (fourth track Malati Di Un Dio is a good example).Voice is good as said,but not the one,which could make the difference.

WILL APPEAL TO: All fans of good and varied contemoprary prog rock without exception.Fans of the 70's will find plenty to like in here as well.

CONCLUSION/RATING: LOTHLORIEN didn't shock me at all,but their debut is very interesting and has a good dose of 70's cleverly filtrated sounds.I loved the flute work of Antonio Felicioli and the alternation of the styles,at least at some of the tracks.I think ''Il Sale Sulla Coda'' deserves a solid 3 star rating.