AZETIUM A OTTO PISTE

ARCHITRAVE INDIPENDENTE are a young band out of Italy who like doing things "old School" right down to distributing vinyl LPs instead of cds. I knew from the first listen this was going to be a tough one to get into. Time has helped but i'm not there yet.The thing I kept thinking in my head when listening to this album was that the music isn't in a hurry. Yet it's also complex at times and carefully arranged. The great thing about this album is that it keeps revealing new things.

"La Spinta" opens with samples including what sounds like a motorcycle taking off. Strummed guitar and cello are prominant when the music kicks in. Vocals 2 minutes in followed by floating organ. More cello after 3 minutes. A change before 4 1/2 minutes as the tempo picks up. "Emplection" is the final suite of side one and is divided into three sections. First "Incipit, Regressione E Cerimoniale" opens with acoustic guitar, organ follows.The tempo shifts a lot. Synths come in as organ continues. Nice bass too. It settles and running water can be heard. Flute, then it kicks in before 4 minutes as the bass stands out. "Vassallo Ignorante" opens with huge bass lines as keys and drums join in. Piano follows then it settles to a calm 3 1/2 minutes in. It's kind of jazzy then the vocals come in. "Scherzo (Di Cattivo Gusto) E Ripresa" opens with acoustic guitar then 1 1/2 minutes in we get keyboards and cello. Piano only a minute later. Acoustic guitar is back before 4 minutes, synths follow. It settles before 5 1/2 minutes.

"Side two opens with the "Azezio" suite consisting of three songs. "Calura D'Agosto" features cello and keyboards early before the organ leads around a minute. Acoustic guitar then takes over followed by synths and reserved vocals a minute later. Mournful cello too. Piano leads after 4 1/2 minutes. Vocals are back after 6 1/2 minutes as the sound changes. Great section ! Flute too. Guitar 8 1/2 minutes in. "Sagra Dell'Uva" opens with samples of people talking. Acoustic guitar before a minute but the samples continue throughout. "Ossa Puto" opens with acoustic guitar and we get more samples. It kicks in before 2 1/2 minutes briefly then the tempo does pick right up. Great sound 3 1/2 minutes in. "Gli Altarini Di San Rocco" opens with a motor running as drums come in and take over. Piano and vocals after a minute. Turns jazzy 2 minutes in then the vocals return. Chunky bass too. Lots of piano in this one.

A good album without a doubt.