L'ANTICO REGNO

The Italian label Black Widow specializes in dark-toned RPI, and this new band - which however has its roots on a 2010 album The Secret Wood Tales by the core duo - makes no exception for that matter. But SECRET TALES definitely isn't a typical RPI band, or typical anything. Since I got the CD long before they were added into the Archives, I noticed that the subgenre question wasn't an easy one. The Gothic tasting music has elements from several directions, such as Folk, Metal, even Psychedelic/Space Rock, but in the end, being not quite complex and progressive enough for Eclectic Prog category, the RPI choice is surely the most logical.

The Italian lyrics (plus one, slightly more commercial sounding track in English) are sung by Tiziana Radis, who co-writes the music with keyboardist Roby Tav and also plays guitar, lute, bodhran and percussion. Her rather unique vocal expression operates between low and high, from folky sincerity to opera flavour. In my opinion the key word to this music is atmosphere, and in that sense PINK FLOYD can be taken as one helpful reference. That dark and yet relatively accessible atmosphere is seasoned with fairy tale pixiedust of ancient times. On some tracks, especially 'Il Menestrello' and the finale piece called 'Saluto del Cantore', the Medieval / Renaissance flavour is very central. The wordless (not voiceless) intro piece 'Stargate' is an example of the majestic, cinematographic spirit that's also woven into the music every now and then. The title tracks leans towards Gothic Metal without completely rejecting the folk nuances either.

What this album perhaps lacks are individually memorable and strong compositions, as well as more virtuotic use of instruments, but the distinctive atmosphere and a personal mixing of various elements that all work pretty well together makes up for an interesting album. 3½ stars rounded up for beautiful cover art.