L'AGGUATO, L'ABBANDONO, IL MUTAMENTO

Two years after the debut, after Giannotti has worked with NICHELODEON on "UKIYOE - MONDI FLUTTUANTI", the OTEME are back with their chamber rock orchestra. Like the debut album, there's a certain connection with King Crimson, but this time the melodic aspect is even more important since the opening track.

The album contains 7 very short songs, two longer that scores about 5-6 minutes and what in the vynil days would have been called a side-long track, scoring over 25 minutes.

The tracks are separate, not fading one into the other, but the album presents a good continuity and can be enjoyed in one shot. The vocal harmonies built by Stefano GIANNOTTI and Emanuela LARI are a bit more present than in the debut album. Together with the chamber orchestra arrangements they constitute the trademark of this band. "Camminavo", the track #3 is the perfect example. Listen to it and you'll know what I mean.

"Bianco Richiamo" is another highlight; the melody is strong with the lazy percussion in the background leading this instrumental to an unexpected follow-up as the "first" title track "L'Agguato" is. This is more challenging, I think it would be perfect for a contemporary ballet. The trilogy proceeds with "L'Abbandono". Once again, listening to this band I think to DEBUSSY. Not an easy listening also this, but the Arabesque progression has something magic. The last part of the trilogy: "Il mutamento" digs in the realm of concrete music. Nothing to envy to ART ZOYD, initially, but it's incredible as a bossa-nova interlude changes the mood leading to the return of the vocals after three instrumentals. Again the harmony produced by the two vocalists on "Dopo La Pioggia" is remarkable.

Now the suite: more than a suite is a very long song. Extremely good with consistent melodies and instrumental interludes flowing seamlessly with few exceptions but very well balanced. I must mention the high pitched voice of Emanuela LARI who in this song has also the possibility of singing out of the background. Honestly I don't know how to define this music without writing trivialities. I can mainly say that once you open the door of this magnetic song, you can't exit before it's finished...well, this is what epics are for isn't it?

A less than two minutes long coda remided me to "TERRE II", the last album of the French saxophonist JULIAN JULIEN. I would have placed this nice piece of music in a different place of the playlist, as after the epic it may seem a filler but it's not.

I like the debut a lot, but this second album is even better. Wear a good headphone and relax.