AREKNAMÉS

Despite the huge amount of bands that have been founded in Italy in the 40-year history of progrssive rock,Italians seem to prefer either their personal symphonic sound or a more jazz-oriented style of prog rock.Any band that slips away from this rule could be considered as unique.AREKNAMES are a very good example of such a band.This band is very retro-sounding and heavily influenced by the darker bands of 70's prog rock,mainly VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR and in a lesser extend CIRCUS (the Swiss band) and KING CRIMSON.The main figure behind this project is the talented multi-instrumentalist,vocalist and producer Michelle Epifani.He is accompanied by two other talented musicians,bassist Piero Ranalli and Mito Vinelli,who takes place behind the drum kit...

In this first eponymous album of the band you will face a dark sounding,yet inspired combination of retro- and modern prog with heavy guitars and great Mellotron and organ played by Epifani himself.The band plays at times very complex prog in the vein of KING CRIMSON and the vocals,although Epifani doesn't sound anything like Hammill,do follow Peter Hammill's vocal lines.Overall the music follows a slow doomt tempo and it is obvious tha the band tries to sound as more atmospheric as it gets.The exception of the rule iss the last track where the gears are lifting a bit up with a nice result.At the end of this listening you will find yourself amazed with this release,a very atmospheric,dark and perfectly arranged album...

Despite being accused as a VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR clone,AREKNAMES have their own style of playing combining the Crimson-esque complexity and Hamill-ian darkness and cleverness with slight symphonic elements and some doses of psychedelia.The one and only negative thing I can notice is the lack of diversity between the songs.However the quality of the musicianship covers this slight disadvantage and I expect a more diverse effort in their next album...

For one more time a generally unknown band managed to surprise me positively.This talented trio have my respect and hopes for even better,qualitive music and my rating is 4 solid stars...Well done!