ARIES

Yet another Fabio Zuffanti project. the Italian band Aries' eponymous debut album comes out as one of the most pleasant novel prog surprises for the year 2005. The album's repertoire is elaborated in a musical frame that sets a sort compromise between modern symph prog and melodic pop-rock, with an added touch of emotional density that helps to provide a special aura for the compositions and arrangements. It is not complexity, but subtlety what Aries are more interested in creating and performing. The general ambience is one of intimacy and reflectiveness, not one of explosive dramatism or pyrotechnical ostentation - the chord progressions and basic harmonies run smoothly. It doesn't mean that this album is not without its moments of sheer intensity: both the longest tracks, 'The Eye of the Storm' and 'When Night is Almost Done' do so. But even in these particular passages, the band prefers to handle the momentum with a serene density, instead of getting too dramatic or angry: Aries' music is soaring, not absorbing; captivating, not aggressive. Contralto-ranged Simona Angioloni makes her vocal deliveries are very fluidly integrated with his instrumentalists partners' inputs: her moderately gloomy style somewhat reminds me of Tori Amos, albeit Simona's singing sounds a bit more educated in comparison. The first two tracks set the mood for the whole album, properly serving as accurate tasters for the listener. Track No. 2 takes the melancholy trend to a more overwhelming level, due to the clever use of languid keyboard layers and delicately sober melodies: a similar course is recreated by tracks 4 & 5. But again, it is the longest tracks that fulfill the most ambitious facet of Aries' music. The 13- minute 'The Eye of the Storm' has an edgy feeling during its first half, pertinently punctuated by the mysterious synth leads and the powerful drumming - at times it reminds me of the Scandinavian vibe of White Willow and Sinkadus, but let's keep in mind that Aries never intends to gets too somber. The song's second half shifts into a calmer pace, although some shades of tension prevail on a subtle level. While the aforementioned track included an occasional increase of tension, the 17- minute closure 'When Night is Almost Done' enhances the frontal melancholy that has been present in almost the entire repertoire. The recurrent languid atmosphere may remind the listener of post-rock's usual patterns, but the eerie keyboard layers and leads, together with the Floydian guitar solos keep the track right on the path of prog. My overall balance for "Aries" is quite positive: I formally label it as a very nice album, full of beauty in a most lyrical expression... although I don't see it as properly excellent. In ProgArchives language, this is worth a 3.5-star grade.