HANBLECHEYA

Because once you are there, you will be reflected in its mirrors, and will enjoy each and every one of them. At least that happened with me since the very first time I listened to the album. Labirinto di Specchi is a new Italian band whose debut album entitled "Hanblecheya" was released this 2011 via Lizard Records. This is an album with seven compositions and a total time of 70 minutes. I thank Claudio Milano for introducing me to them.

It opens with "Eclissi Pt. 1: L'occhio e la maschera", since the very first seconds we will listen to a tense ambient with spacey atmospheres and before reaching the second minute, a male voice appears, starting a narration. We can appreciate to a wonderful cello sound, accompaniying the synths and other strings. One minute later it changes and a new structure is being built, with great piano, percussions and cool bass notes.

"La Maschera della Visione" seems to be the continuation of the previous track, because it has a pretty similar sound, at least in the first moments. The music may be labeled as eclectic prog, with a great mixture of symphonic sounds, atmospheric and spacey nuances, with cool changes in mood and tempo, making a really ambitious album. This is the shortest track, but it is an excellent one, nonetheless.

"Fantasia" has a beautiful and charming sound, with acoustic guitar and cello at first, then joined by drums, bass and synth. This gentle sound prevails for at least four minutes, until it makes a vertiginous change to a faster rhythm and an explosive sound. There is a new passage after seven minutes, with a constant drum beat, cool atmospheric piano and synth, and the narrative voice. This is a wonderful song!

"Nel nulla ettereo? la mente si spande" is a weird track, with strange noises that put tension and chaos to the sound, some kind of confusion, indecision, while the guitars, piano, and other instruments put their grain of sand. The narration continues here, but sometimes the voice is really far, behind the instruments, which creates even more tension or even preoccupation. The electronic element is inherent in this track, and gives a kind of industrial sound.

"Purpurea" is one of my favorite tracks, I love the contagious and addictive rhythm implemented here. Once you are inside the labyrinth, you will not escape, but actually because you will not want to escape. I love the bass lines, the drums, that fast and adventurous sound here. Some minutes later the song slows down considerably, allowing us to take a breath and feel tranquil, safe and sound. Later it rises up again, and creates an emotional sound, with some post-rock hints; it is like a twister or rollercoaster of sounds, wonderful track!

Now the longest song, an ambitious and challenging 19-epic entitled "Foll(i)a". This is a song in which you will find several changes, several passages, with an eclectic sound and that wonderful mixture that I've mentioned earlier, that creates the own Labirinto di Specchi style. I love the narrative voice, the inner and sudden changes in time and tempo, the different moods one single track can create, going from tranquility to nervousness, and a several adjectives I could mention. The variations of rhythm and diversity of styles, makes this a unique and rich track, which I highly recommend and praise, since it obviously involved a lot of work, and makes evident the compositional skills of the band's members.

Finally, "Eclissi Pt. 2: La Genesi" which starts with a bombastic sound that after a minute and a half vanishes, in order to create a new, softer and spacey atmosphere. Then little by little it is progressing, adding new elements, putting different textures and colors, until it reaches a climax at the half of the song. I love the piano and its nuances, and in general I love the work of every musician here. There is also a kind of mid-east sound, with a beautiful cello and sitar sound, which is wonderfully used, and intercalated later with the narrative voice. Great final track!

I am really happy with this original, ambitious album from Labirinto di Specchi, I would highly recommend it to everyone who likes progressive rock. My final grade will be four strong stars.

Enjoy it!

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