ALIENATURA

ll Tempio Delle Clessidre is an Italian progressive rock band whose style draws the inspiration from the hard and progressive rock of the 70's and seeks to recreate that sound blending it with a typically Italian taste for melody as well as a distinctly modern approach. A great attention was paid to the integration between the music and the lyrics, with articular reference to the emotional sphere, nature and tradition. The band was born in 2006 starting from an idea by the Genoese keyboardist Elisa Montaldo, who contacted Stefano "Lupo" Galifi, the vocalist on the album "Zarathustra" by the Italian prog rock band of the 70's Museo Rosenbach, regarded as a masterpiece of the genre. After completing the line up, the band performed live the entire Museo Rosenbach's album and started writing their compositions. Their first self-titled debut album was released in 2010 and gave to the band an immediate success. In 2013, with the new singer Francesco Ciapica, the band released their second studio album, "AlieNatura". In 2016 Mattias Olsson, drummer of the well known Swedish band Anglagard joined the band. In 2017 the band released their third studio album, "Il-Ludere".

"AlieNatura" is the second studio album of Il Tempio Delle Clessidre and was released in 2013. The line up on the album is Francesco Ciapica (lead and backing vocals), Giulio Canepa (backing vocals, acoustic, classical and electric guitars), Elisa Montaldo (lead and backing vocals, keyboards, piano and ethnic tools), Fabio Gremo (backing vocals, bass guitar and classical guitar) and Paolo Tixi (backing vocals and drums). It had also the presence of Yoshiko Kase (narration).

The core on this album appears to revolve around firm, majestic guitar and organ based themes. They're a constantly recurring feature, and the arrangement of choice for major alterations and just about any of the intense passages that appear. Vintage keyboard textures are liberally applied throughout as well, both as creators of the numerous gentler, atmospheric passages that are another recurring feature on this album. A select few pastoral excursions have found their way into this album as well, although the more powerful and majestic passages are the dominating ones, and fairly often ones with a darker tinge to them at that. The powerful and theatrical vocals of Ciapica fit well in this type of music.

"Kaze (Ciò Che Il Vento Porta Con Sé)" is an instrumental track with Eastern influences when East meets West. It evokes, with its wind noises, the Asian harmonies. It functions as a long, dramatic intro with keyboard flutes and pads, voice samples and a final crash guitar. This is a wonderful way to kick off the album. "Senza Colori" is Ciapica's debut that shows him in a top form. It sounds more like their debut album. It has some intricate guitar riffs by Canepa. Eliza's keyboards are understated and greatly enhance the listening experience. Trough it we can get some synths, Mellotron, piano and acoustic guitar. "Il Passo" is one of the highlights because it brings some of the nicest analog keyboard sounds that have been heard lately. Canepa's soaring guitar solos are outstanding. It's a track that goes through many tempo and melody changes that hold your interest throughout its nine minutes. "Fino Alla Vetta" is a bit cinematic with its acoustic guitar and Mellotron opening. All components of the track are geared towards the voice of Ciapica. This is the first song where I noticed more Tixi's drum work. "Onirica Possessione" is the first epic at just under ten minutes and is clearly divided into a picturesque introduction, a gloomy middle section and a relaxed ending. This is a Gothic beautiful piece. There are barely discernible whispered voices and the song shifts. Eliza contributes with vocals for the first time. "Notturna" is a short three minute song, a quiet and ambient song with Eliza's multi-tracked vocals, piano and birds. It's introduced by a great bass playing of Gremo, while Elisa sings on this harmonically unusual piece. "Il Cacciatore" is divided into five parts: "La Vera Preda", "Volo Di Rapace", "La Lince", "Il Lupo" and "Il Cacciatore". It's the best track on the album. This 15 minute opus incorporates all the elements that makes of Il Tempio Delle Clessidre one of the greatest and best new Italian prog bands with Ciapica's strong vocals, Eliza's keyboards, Canepa's acoustic and electric guitars, Gremo's strong bass lines and Tixi's drums. This is an intelligent way to close this excellent album.

Conclusion: All in all, this is an excellent second release by this young Italian band. This is symphonic progressive rock with a distinct vintage sound, a style of music they explore with a high degree of excellence throughout. A strong and well made production, and while it does explore musical grounds rather thoroughly explored by other before them, they do it in such excellent manner that the end result is a powerful and compelling one anyhow. This is a complete piece of work with a production well worth spending some time with it, even though it's hard for the non-Italian speakers understand the full concept without notes. But, there's so much going on that is a sheer delight from the start to end. If you enjoy classic prog, whatever the form or language, then this is something that you ought to seek out. So, "AlieNatura" is a must have for anyone looking for an Italian symphonic program. It's a powerful and fascinating album.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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