ANATOMY OF THE WORLD

Forming in late 2013, Kalisantrope are a new Italian instrumental progressive rock trio with the set- up of bass, keyboards and drums, and their first twenty-six minute EP `Anatomy of the World' already shows great promise, with the young group striking a good balance between a modern sound with vintage Seventies RPI qualities. Some parts remind of the instrumental elements of Le Orme, and, surprisingly, other moments hint at the classical elegance and daring of Triade's sole 1973 album `1998: La Storia di Sabazio'! With fleeting moments of gothic grandeur, brief space- rock diversions, heavier bursts and symphonic flavours also worked in, it's an exciting little start to a potentially great new band to keep an eye on!

On moody opener `Varroa Destructor', Alex Carsetti's drums are dominating and up-front, female player Noemi Bolis' bass rumbles like a thunderstorm, and Davide Freguglia's keyboards move between mystical drones and spacey synth runs. Eerie Mellotron choirs bookend `Hypophysis', an energetic piece that races back and forth in tempo, Alex's furious drumming briefly calling to find Le Orme's heavy `In Concerto' album, and some spiralling Moog dashes remind of the galloping moments of Premiata Forneria Marconi. Ethereal deep-space synths initially float through `Holodomor' before wisps of electric piano ambience, brooding Fender Rhodes thickness, scratchy bass distortion and sprightly drumming almost take the piece in a jazz/fusion direction, and fans of Norwegian band Elephant9 should love this one.

The trio deliver their most ambitious pieces from this point on, and the more prominent RPI traits fully emerge starting with the fourth track `Concept Fading'. Spiralling runs of classical piano, maddening synths, frantic bass and snappy drumming tear up, down and all around, very much in the manner of the extended instrumental first side of the above mentioned Triade's addictive `La Storia di Sabazio' album, but whether it's a true influence on the band or this is simply a coincidence is unsure! The eight minute three-part suite `She' really hints at what the band can deliver with lengthier works, and gloomy church organ with teases of classical themes and reflective piano interludes weave between slinking bass, driving drums and gently erupting Fender Rhodes fire.

At this early point, some of the playing is a little clumsy in a few brief spots, and successful transitions between passages are not as well developed as they could be, but this is a young band, and the three players will only keep improving and honing their skills from here. The production of the album means the trio are always prominent in the mix, and they already show great developing musical ability and imaginative compositions. These elements all help make `Anatomy of the World' a strong little debut with a creative variety of instrumental ideas that suggest the best is yet to come from the group, so let's hope they have a full album in them in the near future!

Three and a half stars, rounded up to four for encouragement.