FROM ANCIENT TIMES

This new Italian band host many musicians on instruments that range from violin, harp and flute to bariton, Moog synthesizer and clarinet. Their debut CD From Ancient Times is based upon the book The Silmarillion by Tolkien, that's not uncommon in prog ....! During my first listening session I got more and more impressed by Ainur their album, what a pleasant and elaborate compositions featuring very flowing shifting moods and a lot of variation. The atmospheres in the 11 tracks alternates between dreamy with twanging acoustic guitars, flute, harp and piano to compelling and bombastic with propulsive electric guitar riffs and fluent synthesizer flights. The vocals have an important role in Ainur their sound with many male and female singers, even a bariton who sounds like an opera vocalist. Some songs contain great variety like The Fall Of Nargochrond (from sparkling piano to propulsive and bombastic with fat guitar riffs and delicate synthesizer runs along strong male vocals), The Fall Of Gondolin (many changing climates) and War Of Wrath (sparkling piano, fiery gutiar, a sensational synthesizer solo and howling guitar runs). This is a tasteful album that blends symphonic prog, folk and classical in a pleasant way. My rating: 3,5 stars.