The Italian Prog Appreciation den

Andrea Cortese wrote: As I said to James via private message (after his review), I cannot disagree with his comments on Il Tempio delle Clessidre. A wonderful record. Wow, "Lupo" Galifi's tone is incredibly the same after 37 years!! How can he get through to it??   BTW, the most important thing to point out is the fact that I don't remember another woman being the leader (keyboardist, composer et cetera) of a prog rock band as Elisa Montaldo is. Silvana Aliotta of Circus 2000 wasn't. Jenny Sorrenti of Saint Just... perhaps...   And how about outside of Italy? Neither Sonja Kristina (Curved Air), nor Renate Knaup (Amon Düül II)...   In some respects, this is the most interesting (and innovative) thing... I wonder what her feminine touch can bring us with the follow up...

Edited by Nightfly - November 29 2010 at 16:04

Well Jim, I'm a big fan of the RRR reunion album from the begining of the year and torn between the 2 for no 1 spot. Il Tempio is certainly the best from a new band for me though.

Vault Pick:  I don't have this one, but our Andrea loves it!  Nice review

Tenebrae Vinc**t
Absenthia Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by andrea
Prog Reviewer

Absenthia is an Italian prog band from Vicenza that was formed in 2005. The line up features Igor D'Aoconte (vocals), Alberto Saccozza (bass), Massimiliano Piazzon (drums), Enrico Baù (keyboards), Paolo Miotti (guitar) and Ferruccio Caoduro (guitar). Their music blends influences ranging from PFM, BMS and Le Orme to folk, Italian melody and prog metal in a very original and convincing way. The band has a strong theatrical approach with the operatic vocals of Igor D'Aoconte in the forefront. The history of Ancient Rome is the main source of inspiration for the lyrics of their debut album, the excellent self produced "Tenebrae Vinc**t", that was released in 2009.

The album opens with "Commentarii ? De Bello Gallico VII", a beautiful ballad inspired by the life of Julius Caesar and his assassination. Lyrics deal with the immortality of ideals and great achievements that can be reached only after the death... "When I will turn into ashes / You will understand the true reminders that loom the time / The flesh can die but the dream will come back in your head / In my death is concealed the secret / You will inherit my eternity".

The second track is the aggressive "Atomica Achillea". The achillea is a kind of medical herb that the ancient Greeks used to treat wounds. Here uranium is compared to a medical herb: what could have happened if the most ferocious armies ever on earth could have had atomic bombs? Perhaps just the end of the humankind and the beginning of a new world of dreadful peace...

"Absira e la battaglia di Teutoburgo" is a complex track, romantic and powerful in the meantime, a love song settled in the middle of the battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D. The character of the female slave Absira is a kind of metaphor for the pleasures of life that are wasted in the name of the greed for power and money... "Absira silently dies in the twilight / The blood on her dress is like dropped wine... The flames are dancing around a dying love". This track is available in free legal download from the official website, so have a try!

"Aria ? Ricordi di un soldato" (Air ? Souvenirs of a Soldier) is a beautiful ballad full of pathos and energy where a soldier remembers his past days and a woman... "Days never come back / The memories of a time that's gone will fade away into the wind / But here inside me there's still your souvenir".

"La danza dei miei Satiri" is another great track, full of rage and despair for the ambiguities of life and the greediness of people. Then comes the fast and heavy marching beat of the next piece, the rebellious "Catilina e la congiura degli stracci", that deals with the living hope of a man that fight against a corrupted class of politicians with a weapon called reason, without mercy.

In the dramatic and sensual "Amore e Psiche" heavy guitar riffs are counter pointed by fiery organ chords. Lyrics are inspired by the tale of Cupid and Psyche by the Latin prose writer Apuleius. Next comes the dark and mysterious "Argonautica", inspired by the character of Medea, an enchantress in the ancient Greek mythology. The operatic approach of the singer here is more evident than ever.

"Spartacus" is a powerful track dedicated to freedom and to the dignity of people that die fighting in war because of the stupidity of dictators or politicians... "Blood on the dust / Smell like ambition / That flies away from this joy / Theatre of death...". The last track, "Lo schiavo infante e la matrona romana" is a pculiar ballad that tells love story between a young slave and his older matron.

On the whole an amazing album, in my opinion one of the best debut of 2009.

Thanks for reminding me Jim, that one's been on my to buy list for some time now.

seventhsojourn wrote: Thanks for highlighting that one Jim, and thanks to Andrea for the link to the Absenthia player. Thing is, does this album come in CD format? I've visited the band's website and tried all the usual suspects (Greg, Kinesis, eBay etc) with no joy. Fantastic music though!

 

Finnforest wrote: Just want to remind all the RPI fans that this band offers their album free on their myspace page.  You can download it and then write a review for them, as they are on ProgArchives.  Or you can just listen to the album on the "widget" if you scroll down a bit.  http://www.myspace.com/assenzioprog

One more bump for these guys, before they vanish into oblivion.  Sad deal, I think there is good promise here.

^^^ Yes it is!

Try this link then...

Finnforest wrote: Studio Album, 2010 4.31 | 17 ratings BUY Il Tempio delle Clessidre Il Tempio delle Clessidre Rock Progressivo Italiano

Not bad. Not bad at all.

I particularly enjoy those really swirling, smoky, dark and mysterious bits.

^ I need to get that Areknames CD.