2011 A.D.

In 2011 the band released a sophomore album titled "2011 A.D." on the independent label INRI. As in their previous work the line up features Paolo Carlotto (acoustic and electric guitar, guitarra de coimbra), Daniele Pierini (acoustic and electric guitar, tuba nad trombone synth), Sabino Pace (piano and synth) and Felice Sciscioli (drums) but in studio this time they were helped only by Francesco Vittori (bass) and Ramon Moro (flugelhorn). The subtitle of this work is "L'apocalisse della porta accanto" (Next door apocalypse) and according to the band the beautiful art cover by their friend Domenico Sorrenti, a painter often involved in musical performances, depicts in a perfect and harmonic way the "concept" of the album.

Well, while I'm writing this lines on the Italian media you can find many images of floods and raging waters ravaging the coast and the cities of Liguria. There is a strange resemblance between the album cover and the landscape of Le Cinque Terre... On the colourful, suggestive art cover you can see the fury of the elements raging on the seashore, the houses the village are deformed and you can see their facades showing feelings, men are nothing but ghosts, lost souls...

After an excellent acoustic guitar intro close your eyes and imagine Attila climbing up from hell, leading his Huns. They come up cautiously, then they began to dance savouring chaos and destruction... Well the second track of the album, "Attila", could be a just metaphor to describe a man who has lost every respect for the environment...

The title of the next track "L'arte della guerra" (The art of war) recalls one of the oldest and most successful books about military strategy, attributed to the Chinese strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu. It's strange how men can be clever and inventive when they plan to move war on their fellows and how they can be vain, ineffective when they have to prevent the fury of mother nature...

There are demons riding the waves... The complex , dramatic "Il demone" (The demon) seems to describe the dance of our fears before the judgement day. "L'apocalisse" (The apocalypse) is another beautiful track where you can imagine light and dark clashing with a cathartic force...

The title of "Tempi moderni?" (Modern times?) recalls a famous film directed by Charlie Chaplin in 1936, Modern Times. The beginning is of this track is slow, almost dark. Is this the progress? What are the consequences of modernity? What will have we to endure until the end? Here the sound of the electric guitar seems to announce hard times, then the rhythm raises and becomes frenzy. Then on "Fino alla fine... del mondo" (Until the end... of the world) you can hear the echoes of a surreal tango led by the Grim Reaper...

"Distrettotredici" (Precinct 13) recalls the title of a 1976 film directed by John Carpenter, "Assault on Precinct 13". It could be a perfect score for an action movie where the protagonists play with death. The conclusive "Streghe" (Witches) features a folkloric, colourful atmosphere where you can imagine some mocking witches who are merrily dancing on a simple tune before they unveil their rage and cruelty on the fiery finale.

Well, the album is completely instrumental and I don't know if my interpretation of the concept is correct. Nonetheless the music is amazing, some Mediterranean folkloric elements are blended with other influences giving you plenty of hints and suggestions. Listen to the music and imagine what you want but for sure this is an album that deserve more than a spin...