MITOPOIESI

Coral Caves are an Italian prog band from Palermo, Sicily. They started their activity in 2001 as a tribute band dedicated to Pink Floyd. After some line up changes they managed to shape a more personal sound blending in an original way influences swinging from the Italian prog masters of the seventies to hard rock, psychedelia and neo prog. The present line up features Pietro Saviano (vocals, bass, flute), Dario Gallotta (guitars), Luciano Gallotta (guitars), Salvadores Arcoleo (keyboards) and Massimiliano Vacca (drums). After a demo in 2006, in 2008 the band released an excellent debut album, "Mitopoiesi", for the independent label Mellow Records.

The opener "Mitopoiesi" (Mythopoeia, the making of myths) set up the atmosphere of this work... Waves of keyboards, sharp guitars, a pulsating rhythm section and evocative vocals drawing interesting melodic lines... "I want to skate on the thin ice of life / To be astonished by the crack under my feet... I'm looking for a shell in a coral cave / With the symphony of the sea inside... I want many illusions / With risks and disappointments / I want a burning fire into my heart...".

"Sorridi" (Smile!) starts with drums and bass in the forefront and alternates quiet and dreamy atmospheres to faster parts... "Even the fastest car sooner o later stops / And if an usurer as the years go by wants to buy your gaze, your pride, your heart... Just smile and turn down that offer!".

In "Cliff Of Moher" the band blends symphonic prog with Latin rock. Strange journey to Ireland indeed. Romantic lyrics describe a beautiful landscape, the sea and the sky that you can see from the Cliff of Moher while you thoughts are flying away, towards someone that is difficult to forget...

On "Senza di me" (Without me) Pink Floyd influences are stronger while the band try to describe in music and words the melancholic feeling of being in a boat carried away by the currents, without oars. But then, someone calls you and gives you hope for a come back to reality... "What am I today? / I should look at mt past / What will be tomorrow? / I was hoping it would be better than me".

"Ricordi" (Souvenirs) is another introspective track. It starts with a flute solo, then the electric guitar comes in and leads the way... The song is about the souvenir of past friends loosing themselves between disappointments and broken dreams.

"Torno a casa" (I come back home) is a kind of celebration of the "backpacker way of life". It's about the need to travel, the taste of discovery, the charm of exploring new countries, meeting new people, learning new languages. Acoustic strummed guitar and keyboards bring here a positive and joyful feeling.

Then, a martial marching beat introduces "Tenochtitlan 1521", a reflection about the behaviour of the conquistadores of Mexico where the band compare the cruel rites of the Aztecs and the cruel rites of the Spanish that, the in name of God, used to put non believers and heretics on the stake. People don't learn from history and, "Despite the time elapsed / Despite civilization, progress and freedom / Every day a new Tenochtitlan falls". The final guitar solo reminds of Neil Young...

"Eterno ritorno" (Eternal come back) is a beautiful poetical track about the eternal circle of life, one of the best moments on the album, where acoustic folkloric suggestions are perfectly blended with prog. Calm passages featuring flute and acoustic guitars alternates with sparkling keyboards and a joyful rhythm section.

The long and complex final track "Il dolce canto della terra" (The sweet song of the Earth) is about the need to live in harmony with mother nature. Its calm, serene and solemn pace concludes an album that is really worth listen to...