LANDOR

I'm glad to notice that I have more or less acquired the taste, when it comes to the raspy voice of Maurilio Rossi, the leading figure of this Italian band. When I reviewed the previous album Silent Moonchild, I really had difficulties to get past the vocals. Now they don't bother me anymore, and I enjoy the Neo-ish, atmospheric music as a whole.

Before getting into the new album Landor itself, I'd like to start with the supplementary disc offering the live performance -- at Parterre Theatre, Florence, 1995 -- of Goad's debut album Tribute to Edgar Allan Poe (written in the 80's, released in 1994). [ BTW, when I saw the title for the first time, I wondered for a moment if it refers to the American author, or the seventies Italian band of the same name. Of course it's a tribute to the classic horror story writer, what a silly doubt! ] Since the album page misses the 1995 line-up, here it is: Maurilio Rossi (vocals, bass, bass pedals, keyboards), Marcello Masi (synth guitar, bass pedals), Roberto Masini (violin), Giancarlo Gaglioti (drums, percussion) and Diana Crepaz (vocals). In the beginning the creepy atmosphere is created by synths, soon joined by the weeping violin, vocals and the rest of the band. The tempo is slow and the soundscape quite mellow, despite the sinister mood. Also the sound quality is surprisingly good. I'm not very familiar with a synth guitar, but occasionally the guitar sounds are central. After the three-part opener comes a relatively straight-forward song 'The Sleeper' featuring female vocals and a slight country-rock feel.

The whole work avoids being very heavy, but the mood is always strong. Apart from title tracks 'Dream Within a Dream and 'To One in Paradise' there's not much similarity to the Alan Parsons Project's Poe-themed debut; Goad's approach also lacks the similar story-telling power. In a blindfold test I'd probably guess this Neo-ish Eclectic Prog to be from the 80's/90's, from the era when prog was low and there was an underground feel to prog activities. I'm thinking of the early TWELFTH NIGHT or Finnish SCARAB, for example. Goad's Poe tribute is an interesting obscure album with an epic unity. Haven't heard the studio album, but I believe this live version won't pale in comparison.

Over 30 years later Goad is still going strong: Landor is a very fine new album, not that far stylistically from the debut. Maybe the vocals (resembling Steve Jolliffe in the 1978 Tangerine Dream album Cyclone) are a bit closer to normal than in Silent Moonchild, without losing the deep passion? Or is it, as I said, only about acquiring the taste? Perhaps also the music is this time less inferior the vocals and has more instrumental passages. anyhow, Goad won't let any of its fans down with this nocturnal 50-minute suite and the supplemetary live disc.