4 little gems (25) - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Topic: 4 little gems (25)
Posted: November 17 2013 at 08:35

Algarnas Tradgard : Framtiden ar ett svavande ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJQMWJPYCd4

Paolo Angeli : Nita, L'angelo Sul Trapezio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-Pk0KJe7GI

Crack : Si Todo Hiciera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD0h24l6iJA

Michel Madore : Le Kosumo à Cordes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwWgxziZJv8

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: November 17 2013 at 08:38

It was about two years ago that I reviewed here - quite favourably, by the way - an album by Paolo Angeli called Bucato: a "solo" album where the Italian musician played exclusively the "Sardinian prepared guitar"; my two main points of dissatisfaction concerned: first, the fact that the CD booklet lacked any real information about this quite original instrument; then, that the CD was way too long, a fact which diluted some beautiful moods, and which, besides, showed the somewhat limited palette behind the musician's inspiration.
I was curious about Angeli's evolution, and I had hoped for his solo dimension to mature; so I was initially not-too-happy about the news that his new CD would feature a wide, "orchestral" ensemble - a fact that takes us back to his previous, and quite varied, musical experiences. As soon as I had rearranged my listening expectations, everything was alright.
But many listening sessions, in the course of a whole week, failed to make my initial perplexities disappear. I'll immediately say that a lot of care went into this work, both at the arranging and at the recording/mixing stage - all elements that make it very easy for the listener to appreciate the beautiful colours of Angeli's orchestrations. The work of the musicians in the ensemble is agile and technically competent - this is not the kind of music that leaves a lot of space for solos, by the way, but listeners will be able to find their favourite instrumental sounds inside the palette. There's so much variety here that this (extremely good-sounding) CD could easily work as nice background for listeners with cultivated taste.
My main reasons for puzzlement deal with two areas. The first is a certain lack of personality at the compositional stage; it's not at all difficult to hear clear traces of Fred Frith (Nita), also in the ways strings and winds are combined; of the orchestral Frank Zappa (above all, check Specchi D'Arancia); then, we have echoes of Etron Fou and Zamla; and a pinch of Hatfield And The North, circa Side Two of The Rotters' Club (in parts of Pari O Dispari); as it was to be expected, there are also references to, and elaborations of, Sardinian folk material; the main problem is that the whole appears to lack a "point of view", while offering a "list of opinions". The second point that left me puzzled deals with the spoken parts and with some of the songs which to me didn't sound as having any particular artistic merit but which nonetheless disturbed and spoilt some nice moods (here a "special mention" will go to L'Angoscia Dell'Amore); I was sorry to see the mood produced by Sorbetto, Nita (Timida) and Ritagli Di Tempo totally ruined by Pascoli and L'Ululone; and the oppositions appear devoid of those "aesthetical/structural" reasons which give meaning to those cuts and "bizarre coupling" which appear in the music of, say, Zappa and Zorn.
The subtitled of the record is "An Imaginary Soundtrack", which could explain a few things - maybe. But while it's true that the composer of a movie soundtrack has to submerge his/her vision inside the director's, what's the point of such a fragmentary vocabulary in an original work?

Beppe Colli

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Posted: November 17 2013 at 08:51

I very much doubt anything here can trump the magnificence of the Swedes, but the only other album I've heard from this poll is the Crack one. A very nice RPI like album (Yep I totally agree with you on that Pierre. Just like I also find a lot of RPI in Los Canarios' Ciclos, which reminds me of the white Celeste debut), but no match for Älgarnas Trädgård. Both of their albums are wonderful. Viking Krautrock if I've ever heard such a thing...

No vote yet though Smile

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hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: November 17 2013 at 09:41

I agree about the Swedes, David. Not a music for every day, but as a lack when we go without it one day. Wink

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: November 17 2013 at 09:56

MICHEL MADORE : LE KOSUMO A CORDES (QUEBEC 1976 Lp)

http://www.progquebec.com/madore.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtfIzLkqVYQ

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Posted: November 17 2013 at 10:58

Both Algarnas Tradgard and Crack are equally good to my ears, so it's really down to what you prefer because they are so different from each other.
So what's it gonna be then? the weird creepy psychedelic swedes or the lovely symphonic spanish dudes?

Today I feel weird and creepy! Approve

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: November 17 2013 at 11:21

I voted for the sweet Crack.

This Spanish band came from Gijon, the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The members were Alex Cakrul (bass), Alberto Fontaneda (guitar, flute and vocals), Mento Heria (keybaords and vocals), Manda Jimenez (drums) and Rafael Rodriguez (guitar).
Their only album "Si Todo Hiciera Crack" ('80) from CRACK is one of the jewels of the Spanish progressive rock. It contains seven tracks, all with a beautiful harmony between keyboards, guitar and flute. There are hints of early GENESIS (sensitive piano chords and moving Mellotron waves) and JETHRO TULL (flute) but the typical Spanish climate and the elaborate compositions makes this album to an enthralling and emotional experience.

Erik Neuteboom,

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Posted: November 17 2013 at 18:59

The experimental Swedes for me Pierre.

"The wind is slowly tearing her apart"

"Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN

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Posted: November 17 2013 at 18:59

I listened to Crack earlier based on this thread and liked it muchly.

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Frank Swarbrick
Belief is not Truth.

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: November 17 2013 at 19:13

As I thought, it is between Sweden and Spain Big smile

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: November 18 2013 at 05:31

http://www.thesmith.org.uk/music/mentors/algarnas.html

digdug

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Posted: November 18 2013 at 08:59

haven't heard the others but I really like that Crack album

Prog On!

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: November 18 2013 at 09:56

Yes, Dug, I Dig that album too Wink

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Posted: November 18 2013 at 19:29

hellogoodbye wrote:

Yes, Dug, I Dig that album too Wink

"The wind is slowly tearing her apart"

"Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: November 19 2013 at 04:19

The English words are severe with me, except when I play with them. Wink

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Posted: November 19 2013 at 12:19

Like all, but I'm giving Paolo Angeli 's Nita, L'angelo Sul Trapezio a vote.

Just a fanboy passin' through.

hellogoodbye View Drop Down

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Posted: November 19 2013 at 13:33

A very beautiful and underrated album . It's a pity that there are not enough extracts on YouTube to allow to judge it.

Poll Question: Which one do you prefer ?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Algarnas Tradgard : Framtiden ar ett svavande ...	4	[33.33%]
Paolo Angeli : Nita, L'angelo Sul Trapezio	1	[8.33%]
Crack : Si Todo Hiciera	6	[50.00%]
Michel Madore : Le Kosumo à Cordes	1	[8.33%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted