LAVORO D'AMORE

It is always fun to discover something completely new, as is the Russian group ROZ VITALIS for me. I was approached recently to review their new album "Lavoro D'Amore", released in March of 2015. ROZ VITALIS was created by Composer/Keyboardist Ivan Rozmainsky in 2001, and there have been several lineup changes over the years. According to the PA bio on the band, they have a whole plethora of influences, from LE ORME and GENTLE GIANT, to KING CRIMSON, ELP, and TRIUMVIRAT, among others. I have broken down my review of Lavoro D'Amore into a track by track analysis.

The Acknowledgement Day-From this beginning composition, right away, I was impressed with the group's very lyrical approach to songwriting and playing, and the resultant broad and expansive approach with their instrumentation-there is power on this track, but the instruments playing are given "room to breathe", which makes things quite nice and accessible.

Lavoro D'Amore-This, the title track, starts with some quite lovely guitar work, and the same can be said for the keys and flute arriving on the scene. Again, this very lyrical playing is a real winning aspect of things, and this is definitely music that I feel I'd love to return to!

Unanticipated- Starting off with some eloquent keys, a chugging bass guitar and drums beat, and some quite effective, atmospheric trumpet sections, this is music that is going places, and immediately draws the listener into it's journey.A very interesting approach on this number; I've never heard anything quite like it, really. Quite refreshing in it's overall effect.

Il Vento Ritorna-An almost PFM like intro highlighted by some absolutely astounding flute playing, then interplay with organ, guitar, bass and drums; this is one of the most complex tracks on Lavoro D'Amore; things are somewhat scattered, instrumentally, but ROS VITALIS never lose track of the "musical thread". Impressive.

There Are The Workers Of Iniquity Fallen-This track kind of reminds me of early 70s Banco (Darwin!, specifically), and it transports the listener into a wonderful sound world, highlighted by the keys playing to great effect, with some chimes. When the drums and bass kick in, you know you are really going places!

Need For Someone Else-The beginning of this track is more modern sounding, and is definitely one of the album's most charging and driven areas. Instrumentally, things are all over the place, but, again, the band have a knack for "reigning things in" just a bit so as not to lose focus. Near the end, though, things slow down, sounding like the soundtrack to a movie of some sort, then fading away at the end.

Invisible Animals- Some great bass runs open things, and both bass and drums get quite adventuresome. Things are tempered, somewhat, by the atmospheric synths in the background. Then, the drums and bass disappear, and the sound becomes more intimate. This kind of brings to mind LE ORME at times.

Every Branch That Beareth Fruit-What a beautiful piano intro, this song is breathtaking in an almost TRIUMVIRAT sort of way! As things gently move on, this track kind of depicts, for me, childhood, and all it's wonder and innocence. Deeply moving.

Ascension Dream (Peak Version)-What a nice piano and flute interplay, at the beginning.Dreamlike, and then the drums, bass, and some trumpet kick in, making for some real "travelling music".

What Are You Thinking About?- Guitar and drums are pretty much to the fore at the beginning of things, building up like a crescendo, then things move on a more even plane with keys, bass and drums all making their presence felt. I think I would prefer a bit less guitar and the keys more up front, on this number. Still, though, quite engaging music.

Ending-Some tight drumming, and beautiful guitar and keys and also trumpet bidding us an instrumental "farewell". Kind of one of those songs you don't want to end, but you know it will.

I give this album a solid 4 stars.