KALACHAKRA

The funny name of this Italian band is derived from a perverse Medieval play, dancing naked ladies picked up a 'ballo delle castagne' with their mouth from the floor. In 2009 this band released their debut CD entitled 108, the first part of a trilogy, then the second part named Kalachakra (from 2011), one year later followed by their third effort Surpassing All Other Kings. In 2015 Il Ballo Delle Castagne released their fourth studio album entitled Soundtrack For An Unreleased Herzog Movie and the Live Studio CD. This review is about their second album. I read that the band members consider themselves as a tribute to a variety of Italian artists and to the Classic Italian Prog era.

Indeed, but not only the atmospheres evoke these Italian artists and Classic Italian Prog bands, also the way Il Ballo Delle Castagne deliver variety, adventure and creativity in their music, blended with skills, strongly reminds me of that.

Most of the compositions are drenched into psychedelic atmospheres, in which a huge variety of instruments (from guitar and organ to sitar, synthesizer and violin) are used to create hypnotizing and atmospheric music. A few examples where Il Ballo Delle Castagne succeed to generate these very 'pleasant mellow moods'.

Fat synthesizer flights and howling Floydian guitar runs in Tutte Le Anime Saranno Pesate.

A hypnotizing climate with varied samples (especially the sitar) in the titletrack.

A wonderful combination of vocals, Hammond and sensitive electric guitar in the opener Passioni Diabolische.

At some moments the music turns into harder-edged, like in the propulsive and sumptuous La Terra Trema (strong vocals and exciting guitar riffs), also including a break with mid-tempo featuring swirling organ and guitar.

More experimental is de final track Ballo Delle Castagne, it contains a variety of synthesizer sounds and monotone drum beats.

Here's another interesting Italian prog album, varied and adventurous.

My rating: 3,5 star.