AREKNAMÉS

Areknamés are an interesting band from Pescara (Italy) that gathered in 2001 around the main character of the composer and keyboardist Michele Epifani. The name of the band comes from the title of a Franco Battiato's song from the album "Pollution", although their main sources of inspiration are not Italian... Their eponymous debut album was released in 2003 and on it you can perceive all their love for bands like Van Der Graaf Generator, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Caravan, Genesis...

The overall sound of the band is compact and with a vintage feeling but, although Areknamés draw on Seventies classic prog-rock, their music is not completely derivative and you can find here some really good tracks, like the long opener "A Day Among Four Walls", "Season Of Death" and the final "Grain Of Sand Lost In The Sea", all featuring shifting tempos and quirky melodies... Vocals are theatrical and remind of Peter Hammill while soaring over fiery Hammond passages or hiding in whispers under delicate piano or organ patterns... The mood is dark and the atmosphere almost claustrophobic but, in spite to the subject matter of the lyrics, the album is not boring at all... Perhaps this is not an essential album, but it's a very interesting one and it should be especially appreciated by VDGG lovers.