CORAL CAVES PROMO 2006

The Coral Caves 2006 promo was the first short-length release from the 5-piece band from Palermo and an amazingly solid one that knocked my socks off. As mentioned in my review of "Mitopoiesi" (their new full length debut) Coral Caves plays a fresh and youthful version of classic progressive rock mixing their namesake penchant for "Echoes" era Pink Floyd with traditional Italian Symphonic (think some PFM, some Orme, maybe Corte dei Miracoli). They also possess a gift for accessible melodies that you might find in neo-prog (Marillion) or in the finest moments of the AOR crowd (Kansas/Journey/Styx). The band's sound is pure ear candy with commanding vocals, great bass, drums, and keyboard play, and heavenly guitar work loaded with emotion.

The four tracks included here are all very solid and each has a charming video that can be viewed currently at the bands myspace. (I hope to see a Coral Caves DVD someday, Mellow!) "Cliff of Moher" has a light touch with acoustic guitar strumming over the bass and free-spirited melody invoking the outdoors. Periodic electric solos are near perfect in their sprightly, poppy feel. That's right, Coral Caves isn't afraid of having a pop element in their prog, there's nothing wrong with it when done this well. "Senza di me" is where the band really grabs you with drama and evolving themes reminding me of "Script for a Jester's Tear" in the pacing and melancholy. "Eterno Ritorno" is a moody piece with some great keyboard excursion and flute work. The band never gets caught up with speed or excessive heavy distortions, relying more on nuanced playing and enjoyable songs. They have a good light touch and deliberate, disciplined pacing that allows you to really appreciate the talents of the band. "Il Dolce Canto Della Terra" is the band's crowning track for me, 13 minutes of stately floating keys, slow rhythms and passionate vocals. The melody is haunting and the song features a middle break dropping the rock for some quieter surprises that build back into a finale. The lead guitar soars at the end. The cool thing about this stellar promo is that you get all four tracks on the new full length album which is likely much easier to find. Coral Caves is a must for lovers of melodic progressive, combining the best elements of the classic period with the modern production qualities of today's scene. A pretty safe bet they will not disappoint you if you enjoy melodic rock. 8/10