TALIESIN

This is a classic of shattering proportions, a very rich tapestry of Italian folk, a savoury dose of medieval "Minstrelitis" and a oft listened to CD , coming into at least one or two rotations a year since its release. Similar in spirit to Norway's shimmering Shine Dion, fellow Italians Hostsonaten's Springsongs, Lindh-Johansson's Bilbo and Dreamsongs and even Blackmore's Night , this is at the polar musical opposite of say Dream Theater, The Flower Kings or Rhapsody!

The sounds explored here are pastoral evocations of the Lord of the Rings-style Middle Ages fantasy world where flutes. dulcimers, acoustic guitar and lilting Italian vocals (male and female) create musical canvases as if the listener was attending a banquet in some faraway castle with troubadours, raconteurs (wink to Gentle Giant), magicians-musicians (wink to Atoll and Maryson) and other court jesters. Here of course the focus is on melody and precious arragement kept simple yet highly evocative, as if to consciously leverage with the heavier, bombast ladden progrock that composes the majority of bands out there. To prove the point , this recording is part of the Black Widow stable in Italy , famous for catering to the dark, almost gothic prog sub-genre.

In any case, this is a most treasured break to the usual onslaught and a welcome relief on nights where the need is to be taken gently back to another time and another place, dreamng of knights, knaves, dragons, damsels etc...

5 luths