I.N.R.H.

Synderesi were a five-piece from Treviso who came together in the late 90s. In the early 2000s they began to compose a conceptual album based on elements of the Gospel, and entered into a contest. Such contests seem quite popular in Italy as often winners will win some valuable studio time in addition to other prizes. While I.N.R.H. is said to be a "demo" that was not fully realized in the eyes of the musicians, it today comes across as a more than satisfying RPI album. The only hints that the album may not have been fully cooked are some occasionally thin or awkward sounding moments in the production, but the cool thing is, in my view this undercooked feel actually works to the advantage of the material. There is a definite avant-garde spirit to what the musicians consider a symphonic prog album and I believe that whatever they considered unfinished in the production adds to a somewhat mysterious, unsettling, and pleasantly disorienting haze. It's really quite a cool vibe that reminds me of other strange and oddly beautiful works like Adharma and Una Volta Eravamo In Sette.

This is dreamy and gorgeous sounding music from some very talented people, what a tragedy this project did not continue. The material itself sounds as intriguing as many bands who have garnered label support. Much of the album is adorned in stately piano with a classical feel, often with a mellotron like presence behind them, some kind of synthesized strings for atmosphere. Dramatic and quite good male Italian vocals tell the stories. Bringing things up a notch from the traditional keyboard heavy prog is a good guitar presence, both electric and acoustic. Some really fine acoustic playing in particular, again the classical feel with some odd chord choices. The electric guitars are also more about texture, you won't find the usual cliched solos. Behind the players is a sophisticated rhythm section with some jazzy flair, never overpowering, quite nuanced. Around these performances are the occasional strange sound effects which add to the unsettled feel. Some hand percussion and flute are used for exotic flavoring. There are very natural and understated vocal harmonies present. While much of the album is on the mellower side there are occasional bursts of manic edge, particularly the last track. A variety of moods and interesting twists make for very satisfying listening. I love this. Sadly the band disbanded shortly after recording this work.

I would kill to have this on CD, thank God the album is on bandcamp so people have a chance to hear it. Take note RPI fans, if you love the slightly strange ones, don't miss this. (The link on their artist page will take you where you can stream or download.) And if the band members read this, please guys, reunite and give us another one!! Talk to Lizard and give us a CD in 2013!

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