ELEMENTI

"Elementi" (Elements) was released in 2001 on the independent label Crisler Records and it's the second chapter of Le Orme's new deal. The line up features Aldo Tagliapietra (vocals, bass, guitar, sitar), Michi Dei Rossi (drums, percussion, glockenspiel, tubular bells), Michele Bon (organ, keyboards, guitar simulator, vocals) and Andrea Bassato (piano, keyboards, violin, vocals). The latter, former member of a band called Mysia, took the place of Francesco Sartori when he left for a more remunerative collaboration with Andrea Bocelli. The album is a conceptual work about the four elements (air, earth, water and fire) and features an art cover by Paul Whitehead. Many philosophies and worldviews have a set of classical elements believed to reflect the simplest essential parts and principles of which anything consists or upon which the constitution and fundamental powers of anything are based but do not worry about it. This work is not a boring treaty of philosophy put awkwardly in music and lyrics just draw images to stir your emotions as the music flows. It is conceived as a long suite and on the booklet you find a quote from the Indian mystic and spiritual teacher Osho... "We rise into beauty, into joy and into dance and dancing we melt into beauty and into joy". Well, the result is absolutely convincing, "Elementi" is rich in ideas and full of perfectly balanced vintage atmospheres and up to date sounds.

The opener "Danza del vento (prima parte)" (Wind dance ? first part) begins soflty, then Michele Bon's guitar emulator leads the dance perfectly interacting with a lively rhythm section. Then the wind calms down and on "Il vento, il cielo e la notte" (The wind, the sky and the night) acoustic guitar and violin draw a dreamy atmosphere while lyrics evoke an ideal and silent ancient world where darkness sheltered the dreams and the wind carried away sadness and lies... "Into the silence of time at the beginning of the world / When the wings of darkness kept safe the Dream / The wind run after a whisper of clouds... When every memory will be nothing but prayer / When every regret will be light snow / Heaven will cry its love tears... Night will spread its dark curtain...".

After "Danza del vento (seconda parte)" (Wind dance ? second part), a short reprise of the opening theme, the atmosphere becomes heavier and darker and on the following "Danza della terra" (Earth dance) Heaven gives way to Earth. The sound of a gong and recitative vocals introduce the next track, "Risveglio" (Awakening). "And He, dancing, will destroy every name and form to bring back a new peace...". The mood is mystical, on Earth everything comes to life and goes through a constant change until it dies... "Earth where I wake up, dream of freedom... Earth of hope, mother who never betrays...". Next comes the ethereal instrumental break "Canto di preghiera" (Song of prayer) that leads to the lively "Lord Of Dance"... "Lord of Dance, if you hold the holy breath there can be no thought... no flow... no life in my soul...".

From Earth to Water. A thunder followed by a delicate piano solo pattern introduce the beautiful and calm instrumental "Danza della pioggia" (Rain dance) that leads to "Dove tutto è!" (Where everything is!). It's an acoustic track where sitar and violin give and exotic touch to a bright and serene soaring melody. Like a light rain, that melody can carry away melancholic nights... "There... Where everything is!". Next comes "Luce dorata" (Golden light), a short organ driven track... "Morning star, where are you? / Please, light hope in my eyes / Sing me songs about dreams and illusions / I will listen to you...".

From Water to Fire. "Danza del fuoco" (Fire dance) is an instrumental with psychedelic nuances leading to the fiery "Il respiro" (The breath). "The body is fire / Matter is fire / Energy is fire / I live a life of fire / Source of the world... Nature is fire... I follow the way of fire...". A lively reprise of "Danza del vento (terza parte)" (Wind dance ? third part) leads to the conclusion of "Risveglio (ripresa)" (Awakening ? Reprise) where vocals and tubular bells reveal that the four elements are just parts of the same entity... "I'm the Earth and I give my treasures / I'm the wind and I fly towards my dreams / I'm the rain and I quench the fears / I'm the fire and I light this universe...".

Well, on the whole a very good album, essential for every Italianprog lover!