ELEMENTI

The same Le Orme sense of melody and structure delivered via modern instruments (and some old) and recording techniques--with two keyboard players taking the place of 1970s wizard Antonio Pagliuca.

- Vento - 1. "Danza Del Vento - Part I (3:36) classic Le Orme melodies and structures with excellent modern drumming. Aldo only delivers a narrator's intro here. (8.75/10) 2. "Il Vento, Il Cielo E La Notte" (7:16) gentle, sparsely decorated opening with Aldo singing in his higher registers turns heavier with drums and seering guitar solo at the end of the second minute. I love the clarity with which each instrument/track is rendered. Quite reminiscent of some of Tony Banks' more romantic songs. (13.25/15) 3. "Danza Del Vento - Part II" (1:29) repeat of the main theme from the previous two songs with full band and dominating electric guitar solo. (4.25/5) - Terra - 4. "Danza Della Terra" (2:22) feels like a continuation with slight variation on the main theme and textures of the previous suite. Cool effect of bass and drum hits paired up percussively. Hammond solo. Obviously a introductory piece. Again, I am impressed with this drummer and the sound used to capture his kit. (4.5/5) 5. "Risveglio" (3:59) not-Aldo (?) singing about "terra" over arpeggiated multi-level weave of keyboards and "guitars". Very simple structure, like a ballad. (8.667/10) 6. "Canto Di Preghiera" (1:59) solo choir sounds like a monastic chant--until the electric piano comes in--and then bass and drums. Cool. (4.5/5) 7. "Lord Of Dance" (2:52) very ELP sounding opening as band takes off at a fast pace while synths solo. Singing in English! (4.5/5) - Pioggia 8. "Danza Della Pioggia" (2:38) saccharine solo "piano" opens this one for rain. It's as pretty as any 1970s film love theme. Unfortunately, the keyboard sounds used are a bit dated (cheap computer-rendered piano sound). (4.5/5) 9. "Dove Tutto E'! (4:40) sitar, percussion and Aldo open this one. Violin takes bridge between verses and then sticks around, continuing its melodic delivery. More percussives precede a sitar solo. When full band finally joins in and congeals beneath the sitar it's quite nice--like a George Harrison jam. (9/10) 10. "Luce Dorata" (1:29)~ "church" organ beneath Aldo's plaintive voice. Arp synth replaces Aldo for a very church- like finale. (4.33/5) - Fuoco - 11. "Danza Del Fuoco" (2:41) 1960s lounge jazz organ with piano-led jazz combo. Very 60s-sounding. Nice! (4.5/5) 12. "Il Respiro" (2:21) Not a fan of this vocal section where the music goes kind of rockabilly. (4/5) 13. "Danza Del Vento - Part III" (3:38) sounds like a Vangelis opening but then everything breaks into a celebratory dance. The whole rhythm track here throws me off. (4.25/5). 14. "Risveglio - Reprise" (1:27) an emotional reprise, as titled. (4.25/5)

Total Time: 42:27

Modern drums and mature, sophisticated composition skills make Le Orme a continued force in the RPI world. Plus, with such a variety of sounds and styles I can't help but give these guys some credit.

B/four stars; a very nice product from some old masters (with young recruits).