IL MADRIGALE DEL VENTO

This is CALLIOPE's third album and my least favourite of those three. Quite a change here as they've become more pastoral and added a female singer. It's hard to tell if it's the same band actually. The album opens and closes with two epics with four short tracks in between.

"The End Of May" opens with atmosphere until synths and drums arrive 1 1/2 minutes in. The tempo picks up then mellotron rolls in as it settles again. It kicks in again quickly. Nice guitar before 5 minutes. Vocals and mellotron follow. More prominant guitar after 7 1/2 minutes then the synths start to lead the way. It settles before 12 minutes. Flute and piano a minute later. Vocals are back 15 minutes in. "The Birth Of The Moon" again opens with atmosphere as vocals join in. A change 1 1/2 minutes in. Violin, drums and vocals before 3 minutes. Mellotron follows and the bass becomes prominant. Violin again late.

"En Haute De Crete (Swiss Traditional)" features flute and acoustic guitar early. Bass, drums, violin and mellotron all eventually join in. "The Fair Plait" sounds almost like a jig with vocals. "The Time Are You" is mainly vocals and violin. "The Vision Of The Sweet Rain" is led by violin and drums early. Piano takes over 1 1/2 minutes in. Flute joins in then drums.Violin is back and a full sound 3 1/2 minute in. Vocals come in as it settles a minute later with piano and flute. Themes are repeated. I like the flute after 15 minutes.

A good album but a far cry from their debut.