LAVORO D'AMORE

This is the ninth album from this Russian group. Originally formed in 2001 by composer/keyboardist Ivan Rozmainsky as a one-man-band project. Later other members were added and they became a full band. I have heard some of their music before (including an interesting Yes cover) but this new album is generally more rocking than their previous work. Earlier music was very symphonic and chamber rock oriented; those elements are still here but mixed with prog folk and post-rock. All instrumental and not very derivative of anyone in particular.

"The Acknowledgement Day" opens the album on an upbeat and pleasant folk-rock note. Eventually it gets both more rocking and more classical sounding. The title track is generally folky and classical sounding with no drums and only some soloing on electric guitar towards the end. "Unanticipated" in contrast to the previous track has some jazzy trumpet soloing over a moody foundation. Halfway becomes more uplifting with some classical piano. Gets more menacing sounding with the distorted bass at the end.

"Il Vento Ritorna" has a great flute melody which is sometimes repeated on guitar. An upbeat track for the most part which is equal parts folk, jazz and classical yet all in a 'rock' context. By the time we get to "Need For Someone Else" the album seems to have switched gears. Before the music was mostly in classical/folk/jazz mode...now it's firmly in rock territory. I love the mix of wah-wah guitar and flute which opens this track. Very proggy organ playing later on. Organ and distorted guitar dominate but things mellow down a bit with some piano, flute and delayed guitar.

"Invisible Animals" opens with spacey synths and a delayed bass part which reminds me of the band Maserati. There is a certain compression or reverb which is added to the drums which makes them stand out (they are also played in an interesting way). A synth starts soloing and it just keeps going. "What Are You Thinking About?" starts with slow build up for two minutes before it goes into more delayed guitar playing that reminds me of Maserati. This is certainly the most 'post-rock' sounding track on the album. Later on what sounds like an electric violin. Later still a synth solo.

The appropriately named "Ending" features a trumpet soloing over a folky foundation before everything gets more classical sounding. The trumpet returns. This is a great album from 2015. A nice mix of Symph Prog and Avant-Prog with some Prog Folk and Post Rock touches. Should appeal to many who enjoy the more instrumental forms of prog (specifically chamber prog and symph prog). Highly recommended. 4 stars.