RALEFUN

This is one of the weirdest Italian progrock albums from the Seventies I have heard (1979). The prime mover is Antonio Bartoccetti (guitar, bass, vocals), his almost hallucinating compositions are based upon seances and the cooperation of a medium! Female singer Fiamma Dello Spirito (also flute and violin) sounds like a nice witch, keyboardplayer acts like the alter ego of Christopher Lee with his chilling church organ sound and medium Franz Parthenzy seems to come straight from hell. If you like horror and progrock and you want to sublimate some satanic urges, this CD could be a deadly serious experience!

Antonius Rex is the pseudonym for the adventurous and wayward guitarplayer/singer Antonio Bartoccetti. He started his carreer with the fascinating musical project Jacula, a group musicians that was led by Antonio and Doris Norton (aka Fiamma Dallo Spirito). In 1969 they released the debut LP entitled In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum, in 1972 followed by Tardo Pede In Magiam Versus featuring dark prog with majestic church organ work (blended with ominous female vocals, very special, to say the least! Two years later Antonio and Doris kept on making music as Antonius Rex. In between they released a serie of studio-albums, Ralefun from 1979 is considered as their best from that era.

The music is very alternating, from dreamy and psychedelic to atmospheric and powerful rock. The strong point in their music is de colouring with flute, guitar and keyboards.

A heavy church organ sound and then a tight rhythm in the previously unreleased bonustrack Proxima Luna.

Dreamy with warm vocals and flute in Agonia Per Un Amore.

Powerful rock with fiery guitar and Jethro Tull-like flute in Witch Dance,

Minimoog synthesizer runs and sensitive guitar in Magic Sadness.

And atmospheric with flute and keyboards in the long but a bit unstructured Enchanted Wood.

An interesting project, but I prefer the more captivating and adventurous Jacula.

My rating: 3,5 star.

P.s.: If you like more dark prog, see my social comment here, with a review about Italian prog band L'Impero Delle Ombre (not on PA).