ABIOGENESI

ABIOGENESI's debut has been most probably their best work together with its follow-up if one concentrates only on the sound and not on the artwork, which is quite awful I've to say. Like on all of their three records the music is very much inspired by the 70's and one could easily take it as an album from this era. Nevertheless they don't sound like a rip-off of any known band.

Ile St. Louis is a quite up-tempo instrumental track with great guitar and keyboard playing and very good rhythm section. La Notte di Ognissanti is the first highlight of the album starting with awesome organs, then the rest of the band enters, really very well-done Art Rock with great, more rough and low-pitched vocals by Toni D'urso. Later on there is a nice short section with harpsichord. This song is with 7:50 the shortest one after R.I.P. which has only 2 1/2 minutes and is a nice atmospheric instrumental with violin, keys, rain and thunder. Third and again an instrumental one has some nice accordion, then it's starting to sound a bit in a psychedelic vein. Great track as well. L'oscura Tenebra is another nice one featuring some violin sound, probably by keys. At times the sound reminds a bit to german band NOVALIS especially in the more quiet sections. Last and longest one Apputamento con la Luna might offer a bit too little variation for its timing of more than 12 minutes, although it's a nice song probably not very interesting in terms of intricate Prog.

As a SUMMARY their debut was really a very good album, but although I like to listen to it quite a lot I'm not so sure whether it's an essential one in Prog. I would give it 3,5 stars if possible. But anyway I'd recommend it to any fan of Retro-Prog and good 70's type of Art Rock!

This eponymous debut-CD from the Italian band Abiogenesi is still my favorite one from them. The horror-like cover art and paintings and the mentioning of a quote by H.P. Lovecraft showcases a Gothic sympathy but I don't trace this very much on this album concerning the music. On the first track "Ile St. Louis" (8.57) you will be pleased by the moving atmosphere featuring a warm bass sound, pleasant organ waves and strong Italian vocals. Halfway there is a wah-wah drenched guitar solo (in the vein of Mick Box from Uriah Heep) and in the end an accellaration is guided by a compelling Hammond organ solo and wah-wah guitar cries, SPLENDID! The second song "La notte di Ognissanti" (7.48) starts with a mellow church organ-like sound, then a slow rhythm delivering acoustic rhytm- guitar, organ, sensitive electric guitar (including a howling solo), some harpsicord and strong vocals (with a fine emotional undertone). It evokes strongly the Seventies Italian progrock scene, what a wonderful climate. The titletrack (9.20) features in the mellow first part the romantic sound of the accordeon, like you are walking on the banks of the river Seine in Paris, the city of lights. Then the climate gradually becomes a bit psychedelic, emphasized by a heavingly distorted (wah-wah), biting electric guitar solo and powerful drum beats. The final part again features a slow rhythm with the romantic accordeon sound. Then the song "L'oscura tenebra" (9.52) that starts with militairy drumming, mellow organ and slow, sensitive electric guitar runs, followed by a short mid-tempo culminating in a kind of 'bluesy progrock' featuring strong, melancholical vocals, moving violin play and pleasant organ waves. In the second part the rhythm changes to mid-tempo with a compelling organ solo and a great build-up, sensitive electric guitar solo with howling runs, WONDERFUL! The track "R.I.P." (2.30) delivers nature sounds and wailing violin play. The final composition "Appurtamento la luna" (11.15) is a different story because this one sounds similar to early Marillion but it fails to keeps the attention, a bit disappointing end of a beautiful, very warm sounding album.

One of the charms of trolling through someone else’s record collection is that occasionally you come across something you never heard of that captures your attention. Well, the artwork on this one caught my eye for sure, and I’ve definitely never heard of these guys. But since they are Italian, considered progressive, and aren’t classified as an “RPI” band, I have to say I was curious to hear them.

Well, I can see why they aren’t considered Italian symphonic, that’s for sure. I personally might debate if they are actually progressive either, but I’ve never been much of a purist about where and how those lines are drawn either.

This strikes me as more a kind of campy, lighter version of faux goth-rock bands like the eighties group Specimen, but then there are the keyboards so that comparison is out I suppose. Musically at least, although not as far as the band’s projected image is concerned.

And the keyboards are pretty entertaining, varied, and prominent, although I wouldn’t say they are all that complex or impressive as far as that goes. I assume the vocals are Italian, but like most Americans I’m an idiot savant (i.e., only speak English and some Spanish), so who knows really. Italian people know, I guess.

The tracks here blend together pretty well, although each track has something to distinguish it. On “ile st.Louis” the distinguishing characteristic would be the bass, which is quite prominent and sets a surprisingly upbeat pace. “la notte di Ognissanti” is a bit harder and more like FM radio rock, with a vocal/rhythm thing going on that reminds me a whole lot of the Everlast tune “What it’s Like”.

The title track is quite rhythm-heavy, lots of drums and bass, with the keyboards mostly flitting around the beat with more of a pseudo-goth eeriness that isn’t quite convincing, and as opposed to “l'oscura tenebra” which is a bit more restrained and even melodic at times. Nice drawn-out guitar riffs on this one too.

Other than the very short “R.I.P.” and finale, both of which sound very much like they were recorded and spliced in later during the mixing process, the rest of the album consists of the eleven-minute “appuntamento con la Luna”, which again features bass quite prominently. Except for a few vocals at the beginning this is mostly an instrumental, and has this kind of slowly-building tempo that ends up being a full-out jam session for the last three minutes or so. Quite enjoyable, but a bit of a departure from the rest of the album.

I personally wouldn’t buy this myself, but it is a decent enough album. I’m sure the band has its fans, and since I don’t hear anything about the music that is really bad or anything, three stars seems right. Not my kind of music, but might be yours.

peace

WISIWIG

This is particularly true with this album. The cover clearly indicates what you're going to get. Scary music and weird atmosphere. Fully in line with some Crimsonesque adventures.

But a subtle Italian touch is added here (no wonder of course). From the opener "Ile St. Louis" and its fantastic finale (gorgeous keys, my prog friends) to the closing number, this album is taking us into good prog territories. No compromise here. Good and interesting Italian prog music. But I am usually keen on such bands. Maybe my cousin's influence (hi Marco). He is Italian!

The heavy organ play during "La Notte Di Ognissanti" reminds me of ELP of course. Just a pity that the lead vocalist is not on par here. His tone of voice is just to monotonous but fortunately, there are lots of instrumental sections on this album.

Most of songs are rather lengthy, ranging from almost eight to twelve minutes (with the exception of the very short "RIP") and I also have to confess that I like lengthy songs (while not just for the purpose of being long of course).

The instrumental and title track brings us back in the opening number mood. Strong bass play, dark mood. At times, "Ange" of the early seventies are very much present as well (but that's fine with me of course).

"L'Oscura Tenebra" starts as another reference to France. Fully Boléro oriented. It evolves though into a splendid and pure Italian piece of prog like I praise so much. This time, Toni D'Urso accomplishes a good vocal job. This song is my preferred one. Guitar play (by Toni again) is excellent as well and makes this song really an outstanding one.

After a short and acoustic break, the band is back to business with the closing and longest song from "Abiogenesi". "Apputamento Con La Luna" (rendez-vous with the moon) is another good moment. Full of synth and bass. Not really consistent though. I would have expected more grandeur, more passion. But the closing part is real good and bombastic (great guitar again).

This debut album is promising and very pleasant to listen to.Three stars.

Unique-sounding,now disbanded,Italian act but with straight retro references.ABIOGENESI were formed in the beginnings of the 90's with an aim to create dark and vintagr-like art rock.Listed under the bands of Black Widow Label,I didn't expect to hear anything else than good and heavy progressive/art rock.

''Abiogenesi'' was released in 1995,consisting of seven mainly quite long tracks.The electric guitars are very carefully used and the main characteristics of their sound is the lush organ parts,the sophisticated bass lines and the distorted harsh vocals.So,the band resembles heavily on atmospheric Italian legends like BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO or BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO,though their sound is less symphonic and more experimental.There are also plenty of moments,where I recall obscure prog acts like VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR or KING CRIMSON during the listening.Toni d'Urso's vocal lines are quite raw yet very expressive and theatrical and JUMBO's Alvaro Fella would be a good comparison.The organ passages are everywhere,sometime creating weird musical landscapes,other ones leading to fine grooves.Guitars are not dominant,but they are used exactly when and where they have to be added (especially the acoustic passages are so delicate),while a touch of accordeon,cello and violins adds an intense mediterranean taste to the effort.Considered by many as their best effort,ABIOGENESI's debut is a good addition for anyone searching for the dark side of progressive rock!A recommended effort.

Trawling through old albums and bands listed on ProgArchives is bound to throw up different sounds and some nice surprises. The debut album from Abiogenesi is one of them.

Abiogenesi was set up to create the 1970s sound. And let me add; the Rock Progressivo Italiano sound from the 1970s. This is very much a Rock Progressivo Italiano album and should be awarded an associate membership of that genre. There are some notable Van Der Graaf Generator influences throughout though.

The sound is excellent throughout with vintage tangents, guitars, bass and drums. The vocals too is very good. The musicians is doing a competent job and I have no complaints whatsoever.

The quality is great throughout with some truly great songs. The best one is without doubt the closing track Apputamento Con La Luna which is very much in the great tradition of RPI. Though with some added elements of both Pink Floyd and Genesis too.

In short, this is a very pleasant Rock Progressivo Italiano album which deserves a wider audience.