ASCETA

I wasn't expecting that the first chamber rock album of 2023 would have come from Chile. I mean "my" first chamber rock new listen, the album was released in 2022 by an excellent ensemble of classical trained instrumentist who play the complex and challenging music composed by Rodrigo Maccioni. As usual in the chamber rock standards, the signatures vary very often inside the same track and the chord sequences are built to gain the listener's attention without giving any clue about it, so that every passage is quite a surprise.

Respect to the obvious comparison with bands like Art Zoyd, and Universe Zero, I personally find the Asceta's music to be more dreamy than dark. Some passages make me think to classical authors like Debussy in primis. The opener, Fobia, is cinematic. Its finale reminded me to the soundtracks of the most dramatic moments of the classical series of Star Trek.

Proceeding, Virusmosis has some rock moments hidden inside a soundscape similar in some ways to the Spanish band October Equus.

I sometimes wonder how a human being can compose so complex music. "Gigante Microscopico (microscopic giant)" starts like a sci-fi movie of the 50s, but it quickly turns into something completely different. I like the sudden changes of rhythm and the pauses. It's incredible how all this stops and starts don't interrupt the continuity of the track, which contains also hints of the latin origins of the band even with some arabesques. This is my favorite one, in particular the second half, whith the dialogue between bass and guitar with the strings and the clarinet behind.

The track lengths and the total duration of the album make me guess that it might have been conceived for a vynil release. If so, "Los De Afuera (those from outside)" should be the first track of side B. Again, I think it could be perfect for a movie soundtrack. One of the reasons why I like this kind of music is that it gives me the possibility to create mental images. This album does it. Sticking on the music, the work made by the flute on this track is remarkable, but clarinet, violin, cello, every instrument concurs and I must also make my compliments to the production. In particular for how the volumes of the various instruments are balanced.

the first notes of "Ameba" are reminding of Stravinskij, at least until bass and drums make us remember that this is "Chamber Rock", not "Chamber Only". I'd be curious to give a look to the scores. I'm absolutely sure that not a single note is improvised.

"Movimento Estatico (Ecstatic Movement)" Start with "concrete" sounds then after few seconds takes a path that made me think to the Soft Machine. It sounds jazzy to my ears, and here the eight musicians are like a full orchestra.

"Sistemas Alterados (Altered Systems)" opens with the strings of the piano like in "Heavy-Aries-Heaven" by Vangelis. This track has a mood similar to that of the previous one, what I describe as jazzy probably mistaking. I have the impression of an relationship with Gentle Giant.

In summary, this is an excellent album that doesn't have anything less than the outputs of Universe Zero or Art Zoyd or any other RIO band. We have eight great instrumentists and an excellent composer playing seven tracks full of things, with passages often unexpected and a great composing work on the rhithmic section (I guess).

4 stars, but very close to 5.

...and let me say that I consider the stars no more than a little eye-catcher. If an album is good is good. Stars aren't relevant.

...and this is very good.

Many thanks to Rodrigo for sending it to me. I have really enjoyed it and I hope that RIO-addicted listeners can do the same.