LA BALLATA DELL'ARDITO

I was warned against believing that Ianva was a run to the mill Rock Progressivo Italiano band by many inside and outside ProgArchives. Based on this mini album, the warnings is correct.

This is their first ever release and it is a release which has far more in common with the 1930's Paris than the Rock Progressivo Italiano scene. Edit Piaf springs to mind, but Ianva is more copying the sound Jacques Brel created. Indeed, the third song here Amsterdam is a Jacques Brel cover. The first two songs, out of in total three songs, are original compositions. The first song, the title track is a blend of Jacques Brel and the film music by Ennio Morricone. Think the music he created for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and set that in a Paris cafe setting back in 1935. It is a strange song which first repel but then attracts the listener. According to the band, it is a fan favorite. In that case, this is not the run of the mill Rock Progressivo Italiano band.

The second song Un Sogno D'Elettra does have a more standard rock theme, but then dives into a cafeteria in Paris too. It is also a good song and a far more accessible and less shocking song. The female vocals on this song is great though.

Amsterdam is a Jacques Brel cover and the weakest song on this mini album.

I have to say this mini album first repelled me, but later grew on me and I think it is a good mini album. But be warned by the cover art work, which perfectly describe the music here: This is not easy listening. It requires time and effort to get under the skin of this music. God help me if their three other releases are like this.

A belated three stars.

Ianva is a different Art Music project,based in Genoa (Ianva is the ancient name of the town),drawing influences from Rock,Neofolk and Cabaret Music.The project features Malombra's singer and drummer Mercy and Francesco La Rosa along with Stefania T. D'Alterio (vocals),Argento (guitars),Fabio Gremo (classical guitar,contrabass),Fabio Fabbri (trumpet),Azoth (bass),Giuseppe Span' (piano,member of Prog Metal group Daedalus) and Riccardo Casazza (harmonica).Their debut short mini-CD ''La ballata dell'ardito'' was released on their own label,Antica Fonografia Il Levriero.

With an excellent retro front cover,this mini-album kicks off with the eponymous track,grounded somewhere between Theater Music and Opera with excellent male vocals,fantastic trumpet work by Fabbri,acoustic guitars and harmonica on the front with a beautiful harmony characterizing the track.The second cut,entitled ''Un sogno d'Elettra'' follows a darker vein,opening with piano and featuring nice female vocals along with some electric parts,supported by some awesome male vocals and accordion for the middle and ending part.The closing ''Amsterdam'' is actually a Jacques Brel's cover of the same song with female vocals this time and with Ianva trying to respect the track as much as possible,making it a bit more dynamic with a richer and more modern sound.An excellent try indeed.

I am really surprised by this project's first step.Really different music with a certain charm,which you can't help but adore.If the word ''Retro'' has a meaning,the music of Ianva should be the sound of it.Highly recommended.