NAVELS FALLING INTO A LIVING ORIGAMI

4.5 stars. DAAL are the Italian duo of keyboardist Alfio Costa and drummer Davide Guidoni and as usual they bring in some guests to fill out the sound. Six in fact and three of them play guitar with one of those adding oud. We also get violin and bass with some vocals late in this 49 1/2 minute track called "Navels Falling Into A Living Origami". Not as much mellotron as usual I think they saved it for the other album they released at the same time as this one called "Decalogue Of Darkness".

This is a lot to take in given it's one long piece but I am so impressed at the way it flows despite changing it's stripes throughout. I will also say that after spending some time with their earlier albums just a couple of weeks ago that this one right now is my favourite. This just connects with me more. It would be a short story for me to describe this all the way through.

We get so much atmosphere and soundscape music but also that powerful ANEKDOTEN-like section with mellotron. The Gilmour-like guitar at times. Electronics in spades. Some surprisingly uplifting sections too. Lots of experimental bits and samples. Love that upfront bass 16 minutes in and the angular guitar 27 minutes in.

I get that using a lot of "D" words in the album titles gives some continuity to their discography but confusion too especially when it's the same word. Regardless this is an incredible album. Bring your headphones!