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ANTROPOCENEIl Rumore BiancoRock Progressivo Italiano3.95 | 21 ratings |
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andrea
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Prog Reviewer |
After the first promising EP, Il Rumore Bianco worked hard on their compositions for their first full length album
entitled "Antropocene" (Anthropocene) that was recorded at the Sotto il Mare Recording Studios in Verona, released in
late 2016 on Altrock/Fading Records and distributed by Ma.Ra.Cash Records. It features a renewed line up with
Alessandro Zara (lead vocals), Michele Zanotti (guitars, sax), Giacomo Banali (guitars), Thomas Pessina (keyboards,
piano, organ, synth) and Alessandro Danzi (bass). During the recording sessions they were helped by some former
members of Side C and Il Rumore Bianco such as Andrea Sbrogiò (drums), Umberto Sartori (drums), Federico Lonardi
(electric guitar) and Eddy Fiorio (synth) while Carlo Cappiotti is credited as a guest backing vocalist on one track. The
title of this work refers to a proposed epoch dating from the commencement of significant human impact on the
Earth's geology and ecosystems, including, but not limited to, anthropogenic climate change (definition taken from
wikipedia) and the art cover by Davide Zuanazzi gives an idea of the musical and lyrical content of the album...The nervous opener "Al crepuscolo dell'anima" (At the dusk of soul) tells about the contrast between the tendence of humanity to self-destruction by means of wars and violence and men's need of love and self-respect. The piece ends with the noise of a shot after a quote from a speech by J.F. Kennedy (Address before the American Newspaper Publishers Association, April 27, 1961). Confident that with your help man will be what he was born to be: free and independent... The caustic, abrasive "Mediocrazia" (Mediocracy) depict the loss of the sense of identity of a man who feels lost among other people and reflects about how difficult is to get rid of the sense of mediocrity that rules in the modern society and emerge from the mass. The jazz-rock "Il capitale umano" (The human capital) every now and again could recall Area and tries to convey a strong criticism against consumerism and all the behaviours that can transform a man into a member of a herd without personality. Programmed obsolescence of creation, dictatorship of money and selfishness, structural classism, drugs and tobacco addiction... Like a broken compass men get lost in a place where time stands still. The following "Tempio pallido" (Pale temple) starts by a delicate piano passage and features a dreamy atmosphere. It depicts a kind of transcendental experience in a parallel world where you can feel really free, where there's nothing to touch, there's no time nor dimension, no boss nor money, no temple nor gates. Your soul can wander everywhere without limits, resting in peace for the eternity... The dark, jazzy "Tephlon (Club)" is an inspired instrumental track that leads to the long, complex "Il giudice e il bugiardo" (The judge and the liar) that depicts in a surreal way the trial of a man who passed away, drowned in his silence. The music starts by a slow pace, the atmosphere is filled with mystery and jazzy touches. Hanged on a rope and dragged into oblivion, now the protagonist is sitting on a chair in a judgement room crowded by abstract characters, in touch with the worst part of himself, trying to reanimate what he's not any more... Then rhythm and tension rise. The protagonist observes the scene from the outside like a fake man who observes a liar to eradicate worn out emotions, looking for hidden truths smothered by endless lies... Always trying to wake up what he is no more! The title track ends the album. "Antropocene" (Anthropocene) is divided into two parts. The first one starts by delicate piano chords and dreamy vocals. A man with a bitter-sweet smile who is coming to the end of his journey takes a sit beside your opaque thoughts? The second part is more aggressive and theatrical vocals begin asking questions about ethic and morality, common sense and social networks. The tone becomes accusatory when touching issues as egocentrism and hypocrisy to stir your conscience, hoping to wake you up from your guilty numbness, sooner or later... A very good conclusion! On the whole, a very nice album that needs many listening and a good comprehension of the lyrics to be fully appreciated.
andrea |
4/5 |
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