ATTOSECONDO

Right from the first spin I just wasn't "getting" this latest album from ALPHATAURUS, and many listens later I'm still not "getting" it. Maybe my expectations were too high after enjoying their "Live In Bloom" cd from 2010 and feeling like they had captured the spirit of their debut album an album I consider to be a top two in the RPI field. Two of the tracks on "AttosecondO" are from the unfinished second studio album "Dietro L'uragano".

"Progressiva-Mente" sounds pretty cool to start with the dark guitar expressions as the drums and synths join in. A calm with floating synths after a minute as the vocals and piano arrive. It kicks back in after 2 minutes but the tempo will continue to shift. I really like the prolonged calm after 3 minutes. It's around 5 1/2 minutes before it kicks back in. I'm not a fan of the vocal harmonies to end it. "Gocce" starts off really well with the organ and that heavy sound. Some FLOYD-like guitar early on as well. A calm with piano 2 1/2 minutes in as reserved vocals join in. More of that guitar before 3 1/2 minutes along with mellotron. The tempo picks up with synths and prominent bass as the vocals continue. Good song! "Ripensando E..." and the next song were both on the "Dietro L'uragano" record. Deep bass, synths and drums standout early on in this lone instrumental. The tempo picks up big time after 2 minutes before settling back a minute later. Love those nasty synths after 4 1/2 minutes as we get a great sound right to the end.

"Claudette" is mellow to start as fragile vocals join in before 1 1/2 minutes. It kicks in a minute later with lots of keys and drums. A catchy sound 3 minutes in as it changes again and the vocals return. Guitar before 4 1/2 minutes and I love that rhythm with keys 5 minutes in as the vocals continue to come and go. Another calm before 8 minutes with piano and fragile vocals like earlier. Strings too but I'm not a fan of the sound before 12 minutes or the ending. "Valige Di Terra" opens with atmosphere and drums as keys and more join in. It calms right down with piano and reserved vocals as the organ also joins in. It does pick up some until we get a calm with piano 3 minutes in. It builds during this instrumental section. Great sound 6 minutes in and we get passionate vocals before 8 minutes but they are brief. Some nice guitar work 8 1/2 minutes in then the vocals return. Check out the bass 9 1 /2 minutes in!

Clearly I'm in the minority here with my rating but this really does pale when compared to the majestic debut.