IL PAESE DEL TRAMONTO

While I really enjoyed this young band's debut it didn't blow me away like it seemed to do to so many. And unlike most I'm more impressed with this the followup which just connects with me a lot more. Love both of their album covers by the way. This is rather long at over 70 minutes and it includes an over 20 minute closing suite. This was the highest placing RPI album in the "Album of the Year" voting for 2015.

"Ouverture: Obscurus Fio" has this surprising psychedelic intro that really impresses me before piano only takes over. It kicks into gear before 1 1/2 minutes as vocal melodies then synths lead the way. This is amazing. Emotion 4 1/2 minutes in as the guitar joins in. "Oniromanzia" sounds incredible as well to start with those keyboards then it turns powerful rather quickly. It mellows out with synths out front before 1 1/2 minutes then we get some nice guitar which ends when the vocals arrive for the first time on this album. Some cool instrumental work 4 minutes in including the bass work. The organ follows as it stays all instrumental. The vocals return briefly and we get lots of synths late.

"Caligari" opens with atmosphere and samples as picked guitar and bass join in. Higher pitched synths start to lead. The guitar replaces the synths before 2 minutes but the synths return followed by organ as the drums pound. A change before 3 minutes as it turns brighter and the vocals join in. Catchy stuff with background synths, piano and more. Lots of piano during an instrumental break. Melancholic synths follow then vocal melodies replace the synths. Some cool vocal arrangements follow then it kicks in hard at 8 1/2 minutes. So good! "La Meccanica Dell'ombra" has a very AREA-like start which is fantastic to say the least. Love this stuff! Violin before 2 minutes then prominent bass before that AREA-like flavour returns. A calm with piano follows then it starts to build. Nice guitar here then another calm as themes are repeated. There's that AREA sound before 6 1/2 minutes then the organ leads the way.

"Il Nome Di Lei" sounds really to start with plenty of depth then it lightens quickly. Back to that more fuller sound and this is all so interesting the way it changes and developes. Piano only 3 minutes in as reserved vocals join in. An instrumental break with relaxed guitar follows. Nice. The vocals are back 5 12 minutes in. This is such an uplifting track. "Lo Schermo Di Pietra(Kenosis)" is uptempo to begin with including lots of keyboards. The bass is excellent then it settles back with piano and vocals. Mellotron before 2 minutes. The guitar follows as the vocals stop then it picks up with organ after 3 minutes. The vocals are back then we get a calm after 5 minutes. Check out the organ before 6 minutes. Killer!

"Ex Tenebrae Lux" is the closing suite and it's worth over 20 minutes of music. I really like the melancholy to start in the form of keyboards and synths. It kicks in hard around 3 minutes and it sounds like clavinet before 4 minutes. Great sound. A CAMEL vibe around 5 1/2 minutes but it's brief. Violin after 6 minutes followed by a calm as the vocals join in. Piano leads after 8 minutes as the vocals stop. The vocals are back quickly as the tempo picks up. Another calm 9 1/2 minutes in and check out the bass before 10 minutes! Love the keyboards that join in here. Guitar as well as it turns powerful. The vocals are back before 12 minutes. Lots of synths too trading off with the vocals. A calm with piano after 13 minutes then mellotron a minute later followed by laid back guitar then synths. The tempo continues to change then we get these theatrical spoken words. The vocals late sound incredible.

A must for RPI fans out there and thank God for these talented young Italian bands making the kind of music that the seventies RPI bands would be proud of.