CANTO DI SABBIA

I couldn't find much written history on this unusual "collective," as we describe them in our bio, but they hail from Bologna. Members of Alhambra have connections to other PA-listed bands such as Amanita, Arjuna, La Maschera di Cera, and Stereokimono.

When I first heard this album, I had a sudden desire to build a campfire, get everyone baked, and start passing out the instruments. While we used to jam to other people's stuff--Bird Song comes to mind--this is so much more impressive and creative. My first reaction brought to mind was the Haight scene, acid-folk, and occasionally even raga. But there are also jazzy elements to these jams and even some classical references in some guitar parts. So much is happening, but unlike overly cerebral fusion or overly frantic heavy-prog, Alhambra always has an earthy vibe that keeps things grounded. While you could definitely point out psych-folkie scenes or different "ethnic music" from all over the world, my most familiar frame of reference as I mentioned is the old San Francisco scene, when people would trip and break out the acoustic instruments. When the electric guitars come to the fore and things get more rockin', I start to think about some of the late '60s Bay Area bands like the Airplane and Dead and others who would create a very vibrant communal scene with festive jams and dancing. And yet, the Italian vocals here certainly remind us of the RPI movement as well.

While I believe this is a studio recording, Alhambra does a great job here of capturing essentially a "live" sound, the sound of jamming "of the spirit." You will hear tons of lovely flute from Andrea Monetti. All of the musicians dig deep and are just continuously exploratory. This is an album that needs to be heard a few times, and it might take some time to digest properly. Marina Girardi sings with great expression and a sense of connected consciousness. That's what I love about this whole band, actually, is that the experience is communal and feels consciousness-raising, trancelike, spirit-sharing. It feels like more than just musical connection. It feels like camaraderie. While all three albums are good, I think each progressed to be a little better than the previous. This one is easily my favorite of the three because of the live feeling and the vibe. My thoughts are so scattershot; it's frustrating to feel incapable of really articulating an album, of capturing how special it is. But I love an album that can make an old guy feel young again, and this is one of those albums. If you love Italian prog that is trippy and all over the place in a good way, do give it a shot. Some may find it challenging or downright difficult, but I just loved it.