New releases and more - Ma.Ra.Cash records, Italy

The project named ALTARE THOTEMICO is a brand new musical ensemble of Italian musicians that create a unique, poetic, retro but still abundant in new ideas debut album. It gains strenght from its '70s roots, taking us back to the innovative musical power of  Area, blended with the visionary sound of Biglietto per l’Inferno. 

This album's evocative magic is made possible by the vocals by poet Gianni Venturi who sings in Italian, together with the amazing keyboards from young Leonardo Caligiuri, true enfant prodige, direct descendant from Area's Fariselli - but not only! Enrico Saccaglia, another extra talented youth, takes us into symphonic, meditative lands with his skilled guitar playing. Valerio Venturi on bass provides a solid pulse and the drumming by Davide Zanotti structures a warm, tight beat for the heart of these ever-varying, original melodies. 

The CD is enriched by a fascinating hand painted cover artwork, originally a real oil on canvas, no photoshopping for this quality band!

If some of us are full of nostalgia for a past that seems too far away, here is a rich, fresh album that will bring back many of us to that fantastic past and at the same time trace a path towards a bright RPI future. 

http://www.myspace.com/altarethotemico

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New Electromantic release: AINUR - LAY OF LEITHIAN (2CD)

At present, Ainur rank among the most important authors of Tolkien-inspired musical productions, as their CDs are aimed at transposing J. R. R. Tolkien's work, The Silmarillion, into music. After their first two works, "From Ancient Times" (2006) and "Children of Hùrin" (2007), both produced by Beppe Crovella and Electromantic Music, here comes "Lay of Leithian". The CD will be wholly devoted to one of th greatest epics by J. R. R. Tolkine, written entirely in verse form and unfortunately never completed: The tale of Beren and Luthien. The composers, Luca and Marco Catalano, Gianluca Castelli, Alessandro Armuschio, Simoe Del Savio, Vilma Collo ed Elena Richetta always adopt an orchestra-like approahc, with the juxtaposition of classical instrument and moder electrical instruments, touching on various genres and different musical sonorities n order to re-create the whole mythology and cosmogony of J. R. R. Tolkien. Over time, in addition to the permanent line-up of 19 members, Ainur's CDs have featured several guest performes such as the Orchesta I Musici di San Carlo conducted by Edoardo Narbona; Alessandro Cammilli from the Teatro Regio of Turin, Alan Brunetta, Ferdinando Catalano and many others. Ainur like to describe their work as a concept work, a series of concept albums forming one great project devoted to The Silmarillion.

http://www.myspace.com/ainurband

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Proteo from Trieste, Italy, after 10 years of unsigned work created an unique blend of the most symphonic Pink Floyd-ish sound and the immediacy of modern music.

Their proposal is a step towards a Prog inclined to sounds fo the '70s/'80s together with this decade's musical identity, well known thanks to the recent wave of popularity of some "prog" bands (Muse, Porcupine Tree, ecc.). The player's great technical ability and the excellence of the recording and mastering make "Under a Red Polar Light" a highly enjoyable record. Considering the tracks, which tend to last longer than 5 mins each, they have an immediate appeal and pleasantness, and they are growers, staying interesting even after many listenings. Every time you play this album you're bound to find new cool captivating details and still find yourself humming to the tunes. 

The jury of the International Fair of Independent Labels has chosen to award “Under A Red Polar Light” as Best Debut Album for an Italian band in 2009. This award is a great way for Proteo to celebrate their 10 years' career and it encourages them to create more an even better music. 

Award ceremony on the 29th November at 17,30 in the main auditorium at the Fiera MEI in Faenza, Italy.

http://www.myspace.com/proteoprogpop

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