DÉNTROKIRTÒS

Imagine that you are an artist who loves King Crimson over any other band, but doesn't want to be a tribute band or either a clone. You will likely reproduce the ambient of your favourite band, the mood will be similar and sometimes there will surely be clear reminds.

If this artist was a Pink Floyd, or ELP or Yes addict the result will likely be a sort of clone, but with KC it's different. The distinctive characteristic of KC is in the compositions more than in the sounds, a reason why Akt succeeded in being original.

This debut album is opened by "Spazzadiluvi" ("Clean up floodings" intended as somebody's name). This track has a lot of KC in the first 4 instrumental minutes dominated by a clean guitar, but when Marco Brucale starts talking it reminds me to an Italian RIO/Avant band, the Quintorigo. He hasn't, or doesn't show the vocal skills of John De Leo but how he talsk and mainly what he says has the same emotional impact for an Italian speaking fart like me. Another reference for the lyrics and the singing is a post-punk Italian band called "Consorzio Suonatori Indipendenti" (I'll sooner or later suggest them for inclusion on PA).

"Elicrisio" is a small vegetable (Helychrisium Italicus) with medical properties. Interesting subject for a prog song. It's less dark than the first track, and has a bit more of RPI. However the singing, and in particular the metrics is very similar to those of the mentioned "CSI".

"Waltz Oblio" has also some of YES, but there's a strong folk influence due to the sampled concertina that makes it more similar in the sound to an Astor Piazzolla's tango than to a waltz. Later it looses the concertina and becomes a relaxing track. If it wasn't for the strange rhythm it could sound as newage. The singing is very interesting, reminding of Banco and sometimes the early Battiato, too. The instrumental part is excellent, lighter than the rest. Good "Frippistic" coda.

"Comete" (Comets) is slow and repetitive for the first two minutes, then it reminds to the darker moments of "All Over Everywhere". Hypnotic piano, lazy percussions and guitar in the back. Let your minds be carried somewhere else by this music.

Acoustic guitar and vocals open "Alcune Margherite di Legno" (Some wooden daisy flowers). The melody is intriguing and the lyrics are evocative. Dreamy and dissonant at the same moment. I think this song is a bit influenced also by "Le Orme", at least in the singing. They show an impressive creative talent and they demonstrate to have a lot of ideas to put inside their songs. If this one is not called an "epic" is only because of its length that's below 10 minutes but it has all the characteristics of an epic.

"Le Sette Impressioni del Fauno" (The seven impressions of the Faun) is of the same kind of the previous one, with several different moments developing in a complex track. The more I listen to the vocals, the more they remind me to "Le Orme", but the music is challenging and intriguing. Again light moments alternate with dissonances which have the effect of catching one's attention. Because of the strict connection with King Crimson labelling this band as "Eclectic Prog" is not wrong, but there's also a lot of RPI.

The conclusive track is "Abbandonia". This title is not easily translatable. The suffix "-ia" may refer to a person's name or to a land. Something like "Land of Abandon". The song is slow and dreamy. Very melodic unlike the rest of the album, this instrumental track reminds to Vangelis.

What to say? It's a pity that the majors seem to be not interested enough in producing and promoting bands of this kind. Four well deserved stars for a very promising debut on which each song has its highlights and each song sounds differently.