MINDFLOATER

Little known modern day Italian gem

Mindflower is an Italian band with English-language lyrics featuring Fabio Antonelli on guitar, Fabrizio Defacqz on keys and vocals, Alberto Callegari on bass, Micaela Gotelli, vocals, and Corrado Bertonazzi on drums. Stylistically the band visits many avenues. There is traditional prog along with neo-prog, rock sections, and pastoral gentle soundscapes. While they have their own unique sound, if I had to make comparisons to some others I would mention Renaissance, Gabriel, Oldfield, Willowglass, and early Ragnarok (Sweden). But they are not a clone of anyone, trust me.

The music is really unique sounding, magical, spacious, and intriguing. There are long gentle acoustic interludes, passages with acoustic guitar and piano together, with soft dreamy vocals. There are sections that are quite rocking, with heavy distortion laden guitars chugging away to nice heavy bass and good inspired drumming. I love the occasional use of strange, less common chords. There are smartly employed keyboards which add color and texture without taking over the sound. All of the musicians are good players who are tasteful without being flashy, though the drummer does occasionally awe me with some great fills. Most importantly is a complete lack of respect for formula and convention-bravo! They throw everything at you in a really intimate, patient manner. You never know what to expect from the next part and it's always going to change to something interesting. Some people will say this means lack of focus or consistency, I say it's people brimming with so many ideas they can't contain themselves, and I find it really charming on this particular album. This is one album where time just flies by very fast when I play it meaning that it never bores me.

The five part "Magic Riddle Suite" clocks in around 20 minutes and takes up the middle part of the album. The piece is a musical fairy tale that is as grandiose and delightful as you hope it might be, weaving together waves of soft acoustic guitars, vocals, piano that build up to rocking parts with electric guitar, synths, and drums. They really conjure up a world you can kick back and get lost in, in the finest tradition of the long-winded prog epics.

Addressing one problem, a reviewer at a different prog site complained that the vocals on Mindfloater were somewhat poor but I don't agree. I think at first listen they may seem average and not as commanding/dramatic as other bands, perhaps too hesitant. But after many listens I have ended up growing quite fond of the vocals, the male vocals occasionally remind me of early Gabriel and the female vocals are fragile and sweet.

The closing track "In a Lightbox" is another delicious track. The drumming is off on its own as a solo instrument, off in the background doing a rhythmic ambient thing. Gentle synths are welling up before a melodic line creeps slowly into the picture around 3 minutes. Then Micaela gently sings "Gimme your hand.don't leave me alone.I feel like a dead stone.I wanna be alive." and the pastoral ending fades away. Be sure to give it a few spins before forming an opinion, it's an esoteric beauty that may not make itself apparent to you at first.

Their CD booklet and artwork are delightfully whimsical, a style which appeals to me very much. Both high-minded and childlike the drawings feature peaceful countryside views with vibrant other-worldly colors. All of the starry-eyed lyrics are also included featuring stories of Gnome elders, magic, yearning, and the eternal quest for that better place just beyond the hill. Recommended for hopeless romantics, fairy-tale/fantasy prog fans and whimsy fans of all ages. More Mindflower is coming in the future I've been assured, so do check out their two albums and Fabio Antonelli's solo album "The Art of Dreams in a Little Bottle." All are available from Mellow Records. I can't wait to hear where they go in the future.

It didn't take long for this album to win me over. First of all thanks to Finnforest for another winner from Italy. This is very modern sounding with lots of acoustic guitar, deep male vocals along with some great female vocals (both in English). There is some heaviness, in fact this record does contrast moods and sound very well. The thing that impresses me most is that it touches my emotions at times. Not sure why but it is very moving.

"The Neverending Meal" opens with some great sounding guitar, very intricate. Reserved male vocals join in then a fuller sound crashes in at a minute.The contrasts continue. Gotta love those organ runs as well. "High Meanings" is an interesting track, I like when it settles a minute in and 2 minutes in. Nice. Bass and drums are prominant late in the song. "A Bridge Beyond The Hill" opens with acoustic guitar, I like the atmosphere here. Female vocals before 1 1/2 minutes. The contrast continues. Killer sound before 3 minutes when the organ comes in. Hell ya ! Male vocals follow. "Mindflow" has these strummed guitar passages that come and go. Female vocals come in followed by a calm to the end.

"Magic Riddles Suite" consists of 5 parts and is around 20 minutes in length. Acoustic guitar to opem then reserved male vocals come in. I always think of MOONGARDEN when he sings here. It kicks in before 3 1/2 minutes and builds to a powerful sound in part 2. Nice. Part 3 is such a good section with those excellent male vocals and the way the mood changes. Part 4 is simply gorgeous.This is pure emotion for me with the acoustic guitar early and then the song gets much more powerful before settling down with piano. Gulp. Part 5 is the final part of this suite. It opens with gentle guitar but gives way to a heavier sound quickly. A good beat with organ and vocals follows. It calms down with piano before 4 minutes.

"Before The Walklight" features piano melodies throughout. "Walklight" is a good bright, uplifting song with vocals. "Mindfloater" features melancholic acoustic guitar throughout. "The Bridge Beyond the Hill" is mellow with gentle guitar and reserved vocals to start. It does get fuller and we get some cool atmosphere before 2 minutes to the end. "In A Lightbox" is kind of spacey with drums to open. Male vocals 1 1/2 minutes in. Piano 3 minutes in are just perfect here. Female vocals 4 minutes in create emotion for me. Very cool track.

This is one of those albums that I look forward to putting on while I just kick back and enjoy the ride.