MITOPOIESI

What a year for Italian prog! Usually I play an album many months at a minimum before writing a review, but sometimes when you have brand new material you have to get the word out and get some information up for prog buyers. And so this is the early quickie review for those intrigued by our newest ISP band-I may flesh it out at a later date. A bio is being prepared at this time but in short Coral Caves is a 5-piece band from Palermo with a sound that I'd almost given up finding in a young, current band. They are a band that has actually managed to present a fresh face on a classic sound and pull it off with devastating emotion and sincerity. This is not a band trying to be "difficult" or musically snobby, but rather a band going straight for that pleasure center in your musical brain. This is not a "grower" that will take 25 spins to get, in fact, it is remarkable how instantly likable they are, several people have mentioned to me being wowed on the first spin. Where they really succeed is making this "kind" of progressive rock something new again, rather than something from the distant past. There is wonder. The music allows you to lay on your back and stare at the sky uninhibited again.

CC merges classic Italian prog ala PFM with the rich spacey goodness of 70s Pink Floyd, but presented with youthful vigor and optimism. There are hints of neo-prog accessibility and a bit of Jester's Tear era Marillion in the instrumental pacing and feel of some tracks. The players seem far more interested in the melody, atmosphere, and the emotional impact than they do in technical wankery or anything else for that matter. The compositions are beautiful and authentic and original despite the band's love of 70s rock, they succeed in taking the great elements of their influences without falling into the trap of worship. They sound fresh and modern in their presentation. Saviano has a great, strong vocal delivery in the Italian tradition and adds his flute to a few tracks. The keyboards are front and center, blending spacey retro sounds with modern synths and some piano and organ. Lead guitars wail throughout this album in classic Gilmour feel at times, but with original things to say, and backed by nicely handled rhythm section and acoustic guitar. At times they rock with the grungy, garage force of Neil Young like at the end of "Sorridi." Together the band has incredible instincts for melody and arrangements that keep you completely on board at all times. They marry their music with excellent video content on their website. Coral Caves is not for shredders, tech-rock nuts or the avant lovers. But this album is a must for melodic prog lovers: anyone into Floyd, RPWL, Marillion, Kansas, PFM, should be running to grab this one. And I enjoyed comparing the cover to the Jester's Tear artwork-while perhaps unintentional there are some interesting similarities if you look close. A strong album that will please most lovers of Symphonic, ISP, Neo, and Crossover. Sorry for the quickly composed review but watch for more on this band from the Italian team in the form of a good bio and interview. 7/10

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