ALEA

This Italian band plays a dark, oppressive and heavy music.

They have been playing as a Crimson cover band and as such, they participated in a compilation of Italian bands who were paying tribute to the prog giant. Amongst the best known bands, one could find "Germinale", "Taproban" and "Malibran". "Nodo Giordino" played one song ("Lament").

There is little surprise of course that this work do sound like KC for most of it. In terms of album, it is more a succession of "organized" improvised tracks of which the long "Gate Zero" is my favourite: it is more varied than the other parts and the fine mellotron is a definite plus in terms of emotion.

The closest they'll get from the master is with no doubt during "Lincestra". Complex rhythmic, strong beat and very heavy sound. On top, there are some synth parts that even Keith Emerson wouldn't have disowned. Not too bad either. The same impression could also be noticed during the upbeat "Interpolation With Casual Drums": indeed an orgy of synths and percussions.

"A Junghian Rhapsody" is a slower track which could have perfectly as a soundtrack for a horror movie: the atmosphere is quite lugubrious, upsetting and scary. After a short break full of birds singing (which is quite a contrast), the remaining part goes into many direction and is quite difficult to approach. But this is the essence of improvisation, right?

The closing and short "Kome" is more melodic, with lots of keyboards. It gives some breeze of fresh air to this dark album.

The musicians are talented, and there are good hints of cohesion within the band. These will be more highlighted in their next album "Flektogon", but this is another story.

As such, I can't really rate this album higher than two stars (2,5 would be more accurate). If you would like to discover an organ-oriented KC: this is it. The album is fully instrumental.

Shortly after the debut,Andrea De Luca would suffer the departure of the core of his band and Nodo Gordiano wouldn't pull off until De Luca would met drummer Carlo Fattorini guitarist and Fabrizio Santoro.The trio would cover the track ''Lament'' for the Mellow Records King Crimson's tribute ''The Letters: An Unconventional Italian Guide to King Crimson'' in 2003,but soon Santoro would quit as well to focus on electric bass.This fact opened the gates for the arrival of keyboardist Gianluca Cottarelli and the new trio headed to the studios for the sophomore Nodo Gordiano effort ''Alea'',finally released on Mellow Records in 2005.

As the band members' state themselves,this was a chance for them to explore more improvised and experimental styles of rock music in this short work,clocking at 37 minutes.And that is what actually goes on in ''Alea'',where a very strong rhythm section offers a variety of deep grooves with a haunting atmosphere in order to support the keyboard work of Cottarelli.Entirely in a free electronic form, the band's keyboardist pushes his instruments to the upper limits, filling these grooves with obscure electronic work-outs, loops and spacey synthesizers,the result being a totally unconstructive pack of six compositions full of jams,effects and sudden breaks.The album reminds at places of a more modern form of vintage Psych/Electronic/Kraut-Rock bands,without being anything close to their level of inspitration.

This album is far from recommended,it resembles more to a personal effort by a band in order to push their skills in an experimental field.Dark, haunting and jamming synth-driven music only for the mystified with a careful recommendation to Kraut-Freaks.