DOWN IN SHADOWS

This is a project that was born in Italian city Turin in the beginning of the New Millennium. After a period dedicated to the electric experimentation, the duo formed by Walter F. (vox, guitars, bass and devices) and Danilo A. 'Pannico' (drums, percussions, piano, organ, marimba and devices) has published a first work in 2005, an approach to the song form integrating progressive and psychedelic influences. This eponymous EP got very good reviews from all the press and let the two musicians to improve their musical experience with many live and studio collaborations, particularly in France.

Down In Shadows is the first studio-album, a co-production with the famous Italian label Electromantic Music (led by Beppe Crovella, known from Italian Classic Prog legend Arti & Mestieri). It is a concept, based on the pure tradition of the experimental music, telling a modern story of betrayal and loneliness. The main character, a complex and disturbed personality, suffers a 'progressive' degeneracy 'until the end of time', with ineluctable consequences. On Down In Shadows we can enjoy collaborations of saxophone player David Jackson (VDGG but also a collaboration with famous Classic Italian Prog band Osanna) and 'touch guitar' player Trey Gunn, known for his work with King Crimson, Robert Fripp, David Sylvian and John Paul Jones.

As you can read in the introduction, the seven tracks on Down In Shadows contain experimental music with a lot of variety, layered with sounds, generated by loops, devices and a wide range of instruments.

Dreamy with soaring Farfisa organ, cello and a high pitched female voice in C18H21N03.

Mellow with acoustic rhythm guitar and Bowie-like vocals in Day After Day and O.Y.O.

And a heavy and ominous sound with a propulsive rhythm-section, a wall of fiery and biting guitars and screamy saxophone and work on the marimba in Down In Shadows I + II.

The guitars have an important role on this album, especially Trey Gunn his Warr guitar sound adds a special flavour to the music, blended with intricate soundscapes and a subtle use of varied instruments.

This is not 'easy to digest' progressive rock for the average proghead, but for King Crimson fans (more experimental/avant-garde era) and those who like adventurous prog this is a band to discover. In 2016 this band released a second effort entitled News.

My rating: 3,5 star.

Share this N.Y.X review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to TenYearsAfter
• Report this review (#1952508)
• Buy N.Y.X music online with PA partners
• Show all N.Y.X MP3/Stream
• Go to N.Y.X page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Down In Shadows page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for N.Y.X related discussions