DESTRUKTIVE ACTIONS AFFECT LIVINGS

DAAL as many know by now consists of a couple of Prog veterans from Italy. The drummer Davide Guidone who i've heard playing with TAPROBAN and NUOVA ERA and keyboardist Alfio Costa who has played with TILION, PROWLERS and more are the brains behind this project. They have six guests helping out, some from bands they've played with in the past. I'd especially mention BANCO's horn player Alessandro Papotto and THE WATCH's bass player Guglielmo Mariotti who also sings although this album is primarily all-instrumental.

"Redroom" opens with the sound of thunder and a transmission of some sort as it turns haunting. A short but very good track. "AnarChrist" opens with some urgency as it builds. I like this ! The organ joins in. It settles back around 2 minutes but it kicks back in. I like when the guitar comes in. Man I love this track. Check out the spacey calm 5 minutes in to the end. So good. Next up is "Noises From An Interlude" where we get some atmosphere with various sounds coming and going. It opens and closes with the sounds of footsteps. "Level 6666" is kind of dark and atmospheric with piano, drums and organ standing out. "The Dance Of The Drastic Navels Part II" is the longest track at 16 1/2 minutes and has laid back vocals in it at the start. I like the mellotron early on. I like it better when the vocals stop and the music sort of drifts along. Sounds like electronics before 11 minutes. The electric fiddle comes in and leads then it settles back again. It ends in a mellow manner.

"Cry-Hologenic" opens with piano before the atmosphere takes over. A baby cries 2 minutes in as the atmosphere and percussion continue. Spacey stuff. "Aglatarium" is where we get a Jazzy vibe with the prominant sax and piano as the bass and drums help out. A change 3 1/2 minutes in as synths and a beat take over. Cool sound here. The sax is back late. "Destructive Actions Affect Livings" is where I believe the band's name came from. It's minimalstic early on with electronics, xylophone-like sounds and the sound of the wind blowing. Percussion comes in. A change 4 1/2 minutes in as relaxed horns and percussion take over. Some intensity a minute later as electronics standout and more. Synths and beat lead 8 minutes in along with other sounds.Electronics ends it. "Memories Of Old Pictures" opens with piano but it slowly builds as atmosphere and soprano sax join in. It turns haunting after 3 minutes. Electronics kick in with a beat 4 minutes in. Piano and atmosphere end it.

I have lots of albums that just don't work as background music, in other words they demand my full attention to be appreciated and this is one of them. It wasn't until I listened to this with headphones on that I got lost in the wonder of it all.