SUBMARINE SILENCE

The cover art is from Paul Whitehead, he was responsible for some stunning cover paintings on the early Genesis covers ("Nursery cryme" and "Foxtrot"). So there is one link with Genesis, in fact the music is the other link: beautiful twanging acoustic guitars, Hackett-(and Latimer) inspired electric guitar and keyboards with strong echoes from Tony Banks (lots of flute -, violin - and choir- Mellotron). The compositions sound very symphonic featuring fluent shifting moods (from mellow and mid-tempo to compelling and bombastic), fine soli on guitar and keyboards and lots of pleasant musical ideas. This is not music that delivers tension, complexity or originality but IT SOUNDS AS A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE TO THE EARLY GENESIS!

Who cares that this is so very much like mid- to late-70s Genesis! I love it.

If you like the instrumental Genesis tracks that were very much influenced by Tony Banks/Steve Hackett then you'll love this.

Highly recommended to all Genesis/melodic instrumental prog fans.

Halcyon days!

I bought this cd recently, based on what I read about it here. And I have to say I am not disappointed by it at all! Ok, it is a little derivative of Genesis, but in a positive way. Submarine are certainly more than a simple clone band. Yes, they are reminiscent of Genesis at times, but their music is strong enough to stand on its own, and should be enjoyed for what it is; simply a good, melodic record. Keyboards are particularly strong, and the opening short track, 'The Door', is played in a way that reminds one of Tony Banks around the time of the release of his debut solo album, A Curious Feeling. You will be reminded of this more than once as you listen to the cd. Track two is one of the highlights. 'Bicycle Ride' has some quite Hackett inspired guitar work, and again interesting keyboards. The rest of the album is somewhat similar, being in the main on the quiet, melodic side. Drums and percussion are solid and well played, and quite effective in holding the songs together. Oh yes, all the tracks are instrumentals too, so you don't have to worry about checking out the lyrics. Other highlights are 'Mr Submarine's Ordinary Day (Part 1)', 'Shores Where Time Stands Still' and 'Porto Di Venere'. But all the tracks are good, with nice acoustic guitar running throughout. Recommended to fans of Genesis, and to fans of instrumental music in general. In fact, this could be prog's version of easy listening. But in a good way. I will give it three stars, but four stars are not out of the question.

Definitely an album for anyone particularly fond of Hackett era Genesis. I thoroughly enjoyed the playing on this instrumental outing. Although as every reviewer has mentioned , the sound of Submarine Silence is based very strongly on early to mid-period Genesis, the compositions and playing are good enough that I didn't find myself thinking of any particular Genesis tunes as being 'source material' while I was listening - not an easy feat to achieve while echoing their sound so closely. A great listen!

"Submarine Silence" is the eponymously titled debut full-length studio album by Italian progressive rock act Submarine Silence. The album was released through Mellow Records in 2001. Submarine Silence was founded upon an idea by Mellow Records label owner Mauro Moroni of creating a progressive rock project playing music similar to mid- to late-70s Genesis. He pushed the idea to keyboard player Cristiano Roversi (Moongarden), who founded Submarine Silence and recruited his Moongarden colleague guitarist David Cremoni for the project. The lineup was completed by drummer Emilio Pizzoccoli (Luca Donini Quartet, Sound Art Orchestra...etc.).

If the Paul Whitehead cover artwork didn´t immedately reveal it, you only need to listen to a few seconds of the music on "Submarine Silence" before you understand that the statement of intent described above is executed to the full. Other than this album being fully instrumental, this is 100% mid- to late-70 Genesis worship. Beautiful, mellow, pastoral, epic, and well performed progressive rock. The tracks feature strong guitar melodies, a good variation between acoustic- and electric guitars, a wide range of vintage sounding keyboards/synths bringing huge sweeping melancholic atmospheres to the listener, and some nice organic drumming.

You don´t come here to be challenged or to experience a band trying to produce something original, but if you set your expectations right, and are content with listening to a pleasant instrumental Genesis imitator act, "Submarine Silence" is definitely a good quality example of that. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

There are a few sounds in the progressive world that just waft me away, knees knocking, bones trembling and hairs standing at attention. A string mellotron cascade laced with picked acoustic guitar is one that leaves me always helpless, even after 38 years of admonition. So if this record is a shameless retread of bygone-Genesis (yeah, without Gabriel's patented vocals and stirring lyrics), then so be it, I am delighted to be a sucker! What's funny though is that Submarine Silence is a side project from members of Moongarden, an overt Italian group of Camel-loving progsters and yet here they veer into more Hackett/Phillips realms that will please those who have missed this kind of aural splendor for so long. Taking it for what it is, this is a wholesome spectral foray into the world of pastoral and bucolic themes that need no voice other than the caresses between loving keyboards and serene guitars, be it acoustic or electric. The sensual intercourse between the 2 instrument groups show clearly why they are the pillars of what we all refer to as progressive rock. Occasional grand piano and organ keep the spirit alive while showcasing even further the rich melodies. Highlights include the majestic two-part "Mr. Submarine's Ordinary Day", the sumptuous but succinct "Elven's Lullaby", the surreal and aptly titled "Winter Glows", the contrasting warm glow of "Red Sun" and the gargantuan finale "Porto di Venere", straight out of Steve Hackett's seminal Voyage of the Acolyte style. Submarine captain and guitarist Davide Cremoni has studied well and shamelessly soars with obvious passion and reverence, aided and abetted by his trusted navigator Cristiano Roversi , on an array of keyboards, mellotrons and assorted "analog frequences" as well as chief mechanic Emilio Pizzoccoli on various drums and percussives. While some touchier fans may snicker with unwarranted snobbism, the truth is that most open-minded proggers will look at this with child- like envy, a one-shot project that would go well with the similarly stunning Willowglass debut album.The Tony Banks comment from 1984 sums this up succinctly" As soon as you think things too much, as soon as you concentrate on what you are doing too hard, it gets very difficult. The best things come when they happen naturally" You can take that to the bank! 4.5 Hacks

SUBMARINE SILENCE are a trio from Italy with two of the members (Roversi & Cremoni) coming from MOONGARDEN. This is an all instrumental concept album that has a strong GENESIS flavour to it. It's unusual to hear a band that sounds so much like GENESIS but without those Gabriel-like vocals. Paul Whitehead even did the album cover. Lots of acoustic guitar and mellow music with some outbreaks here and there. Lots of sampled mellotron as well. This sounds really good but is maybe a little too tame for my tastes.

"The Door" is a short keyboard intro. "Bicycle Ride From Earth To Saturn" opens with a beat as synths come in and play over top. Guitar joins in. Keyboards lead before 2 1/2 minutes then the mellotron rolls in. Nice. The guitar and mellotron before 4 minutes to the end are definitely one of the highlights on the album for me. "Elven's Lullaby" is led by acoustic guitar early before the electric guitar comes in before 3 minutes as synths wash in. "Mr. Submarine's Ordinary Day (Part1)" opens with aggressively strummed guitar like on "Tommy" by THE WHO before a fuller sound kicks in around a minute. It's heavier a minute later. I like the drums here. A calm with acoustic guitar before 4 minutes. Mellotron before 6 minutes.

"Winter Glows" opens with acoustic guitar. Synths join in. A fuller sound before 3 minutes as the drums and electric guitar join in. The guitar that follows soars. "Venice,A Spooky Love Story" opens with mellotron. Nice. Strummed guitar 2 minutes in and keyboards late. "Mr.Submarine's Ordinary Day (Part 2)" features acoustic guitar and atmosphere. Keys come in late. "Shores Where Time Stands Still" opens with acoustic guitar and atmosphere. Drums before 1 1/2 minutes. It's very GENESIS-like here. It settles again after 3 minutes. "Red Sun" opens with piano. Mellotron a minute in and the guitar soars before 2 minutes. "Porto Di Venere" ends the album with a beat and lots of atmosphere. A great way to end it.

Another good album from the Mellow Records label.

This is it ?

Submarine Silence is a bi product of Moongarden, one of the better new RPI bands. Submarine Silence too have an RPI sound...... sort of.

There is no vocals here and none of the normal RPI cascades of sounds too. Left are a lot of Mellotrons, Moogs, flutes and guitars. The style displayed here is dangerously close to New Age and meditation music. As far as an RPI band can get to New Age without falling into the Symph Prog genre, in my humble opinion. There is hard to spot any dynamics in this music, but it is there, although very subtle.

Although this albums has some undeniable qualities and the musicans does a good job with what they have got, this album is hard to digest. Even under full concentration. I am a sucker for Mellotrons and Moogs, but not even these can save this album from being merely a decent album. I am not surprised to learn that this album was a one off. Perhaps that's a wise choice.

2 stars

Submarine Silence was originally created in mid-90's as a project from Moongarden musicians Cristiano Roversi and David Cremoni in order to participate in the Mellow Records Genesis tribute ''The river of constant change'', covering ''Entangled'' with Paolo Sterzi on violin.They ended up to become a regular Moongarden off-shoot band, recruiting drummer Emilio Pizzoccoli.The three Italians recorded the parts of what was going to become the band's debut album in their own home studios and ''Submarine silence'' was eventually released in 2001, of course on Mellow Records.

Stylistically the trio sounds like an instrumental version of MOONGARDEN, at least with what their normal group was sounding at the time.It's heavily GENESIS-influenced Neo/Symphonic Prog, overcoming the absence of a bassist by using bass pedals and strongly relying on the use of analog keyboards like the Moog synthesizer and the Mellotron.The arrangements are lush and deeply symphonic with a strong tendency towards melodic and refined music textures, they sound a lot like mid-70's GENESIS with an obvious aura of the Neo Prog scene due to the sense of melody in the guitar work.Great music, albeit rather unoriginal, with heavy bits of Mellotron and TONY BANKS-like synth solos over a talented David Cremoni, who's guitar has always a STEVE HACKETT-like sensitive touch.The man adds also a good amount of 6- and 12-string guitars in the process, leading to multi-part compositions with beautiful electroacoustic changes and a mood of rural enviroment around.The absence of vocals is what sets them apart from MOONGARDEN, the focus here is on elaborate and atmospheric Symphonic and Melodic Rock with a monster retro feel.

Consider this as a MOONGARDEN off-shoot both literally and stylistically.GENESIS-inspired Prog Rock with analog keyboards and plenty of interesting, melodic sections.Recommended.