I GIULLARI DI CORTE

The opener "Nautilus" is a good instrumental track inspired by seventies sounds. According to an interview with the band, it tells of a smuggler thrown overboard from a ship by his accomplices who awakens on a deserted beach and begins his spiritual path thinking about his past. The piece starts by the dark sound of the sea, then a bass solo pattern and obscure organ waves take us on the empty land...

The following "Vent'anni spesi così" (Twenty years spent like this) begins by a slapping bass line and an electric guitar riff, then frenzied organ surges and a pulsing drumming add tension and deep purple colours. It's another good instrumental piece that leads to the jazzier, reflective "L'ombra di Sherlock Holmes" (Sherlock Holmes' shadow). According to the band, here the music tries to evoke a sort of introspective journey in search of useful clues to understand what does really matter in your life, to evolve and become a better person...

Next comes "La cicala e la formica" (The cicada and the ant) whose title was inspired by a famous Aesop's fable while the music alternates relaxed atmospheres and darker passages, all sprinkled with a pinch of jazz. It leads to the excellent "Viaggio in treno senza biglietto" (Journey by train without ticket) whose melodic lines every now and again could recall Genesis' White Mountain. It's the first sung track of the album, the music and lyrics evoke the image of a military train leaving the railway station directed to the front, a one way journey without ticket for many soldiers and their heavy burden of broken dreams and lost memories. Nonetheless, for the survivors a new awareness will rise...

"Presa di coscienza" (Awareness) opens with a nice piano passage and an atmosphere that could recall Il Banco del Mutuo Soccorso. In the second part of the piece a disquieting, almost out of tune vocal melody describes a rainy night where a new hope is growing... "Il prezzo" (The price) follows in the same vein complaining about the cost humanity has to pay for a war. What's the truth behind the conflict?

The instrumental "Il messicano" (The Mexican) is lighter and mixes the atmospheres of seventies Italian soundtracks with reggae and a carefree attitude. Then it's the turn of "Dolcetto o scherzetto?" (Trick or treat?), a lively track full of energy that resumes the experience of a man who tries to follow the flight of the angels and falls down betrayed by his vanity and a trick of the devil. Then the instrumental "Sabbatho Nero" closes the album paying homage to Black Sabbath...

On the whole, a nice home brewed work although, in my opinion, the vocal parts are not always up to the task.