QUOTH

A mixed but highly fascinating debut album from this Italian project.

With Edgar Allan Poe as a lyrical, thematic and emotional inspiration, we're served a dozen compositions of a mostly mellow but still gripping, tension-filled and at times ominous nature on this production.

Some of the songs are almost purified mellow singer-songwriter ventures; and really not that interesting in themselves; but most of the album mix in space-tinged and psychedelic elements to these ventures - as well as a few pieces that are mostly sound-collages or atmospheric explorations.

And when venturing into psychedelic territories this album really gets interesting. Even if on the mellow side all along; the most dramatic effect used a droning indo/raga opening in one composition; the mood and atmosphere is one brooding and menacing, even slightly schizophrenic at times, as exemplified in the last track where a slow, calm guitar supports the vocals singing "In the End" while a recurring sample of people laughing is hears in the background to chilling effect.

Intriguing, and well worth checking out if mellow psychedelic-tinged music is of interest.

This is an album full of nice mellow psychedelic/space tinged songs. 'Raven Sad' is the brainchild of Italian citizen Samuele Santanna. He is supported by several other musicians but cares for the main vocals, guitar/bass playing and samples/loops on his own. The album seems to be worked out around the famous poem 'The Raven' written by Edgar Allan Poe reflecting a special oppressive mood. Hence you really have to search for something rocking while we have lots of acoustic guitars and floating elements - drums are used very rarely, only for two songs what I can remember.

'Quoth' starts with a combination of clock samples (Have no time) and strings which evolves in a dramatic mood - suitable for crime movie soundtracks maybe. But then it continues mellow relaxed with a collaboration of acoustic guitar, synths plus accentuated percussion and cymbal - charming. My preferences are on the songs which are containing 'raven' in the song title further on. Coincidance?

Don't know ... for example Santanna cares for some Ravens Floating Into Space and the result is melancholy pure - what a fantastic tune! Based on a quite simple instrumentation with background synth patterns, (sampled) cello and last but not least looped electric guitar this is performed sophisticatedly - with so much feeling - clappies for that! Raven's Journey shows a blend of droning indo/raga and spacey meandering impressions - hallucinatory, lost in reverie with whispering vocals where most of the other songs like Talk To Me and The Sad Raven Song are representing smooth atmospheric ballads.

This production sounds like developed as a movie soundtrack. There are existing a lot of albums with a similar musical orientation, instrumentation, approach. Anyhow - 'Quoth' belongs to those who are on the better side for sure because based on singer-songwriter skills arranging melodic atmospheric songs associated with spacey/ambient goodies and on top of this proceeded with some sort of tension. Recommended ... 3.5 stars ... I'm curious about the follower album which is already announced by the way.