DARWIN!

An amazing thing about Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso on this website is that both Darwin! and Io Sono Nato Libero have near-identical ratings at 4.38, with well over 1,100 souls rating each. For some reason, I came to Io Sono Nato Libero first, and I quite enjoyed it. It reminded me a bit of PFM's Per un amico - nice understated vocals married to gorgeous, mid-tempo acoustic-based prog. So I just assumed Darwin! would be more of the same. That was my mistake. My impression upon first listening was: "Is this Pink Floyd circa Meddle?" The Floyd resemblance isn't just in the first minute or so, but also in the descending piano line on the first track that tells me they *must* have been listening to Echoes (which pre-dated Darwin! by a year). But *not* derivative! I understand now why both Banco albums are so highly-loved, but they're doing very different things. Darwin's electric guitars are more pronounced, as are its synths. This is a faster, harder-rocking, funkier album, and a love-at-first-listen for me, ear candy in the very best sense.

The 2nd tune is quite fast and often hard-hitting; not at all what one normally associates with space-rock, yet how else to describe it? Floyd on speed? The tonal colors are bright technicolor, the melodies instantly appealing, but spacy nonetheless, like something that could turn up in Dr Who back in the day. There's an organ melody line that turns up a few times; it sounded *so* familiar, but it took me awhile to figure out what it is. Holy cow, it's the Special's Ghost Town! (First time, at the 2:20 mark.) Seriously, was someone in the band listening to this when they wrote that song? When the treated piano enters towards the end, the Echoes comparison enters again, and just in case you think it might be a coincidence, the sound of wind enters (a la One of These Days, also on Meddle).

When the third tune begins, you half-expect Gilmour's vocals to enter. The fourth tune ends with a burst of chanting, and it's just so original. I just have to say, this isn't what I expected at all, and I'm loving it. It's been ages since I discovered a prog album for the first time from the classic period and was bowled over. All these years I never gave Darwin! a chance, it wasn't on my radar, and assumed that PFM were the undisputed masters. But since first listening to Darwin! yesterday and having it on non-stop repeat ever since, I've realized that Banco have won over my heart. I can't wait to hear Io Sono Nato Libero again with fresh ears, and listen to their other well-loved albums that I haven't heard yet.