ECHOES FROM THE DEEP

One of the more recent musical surprises for me is this debut album from Italian's Psycho Praxis. It may seem strange to say an album that is so obviously retro sounding comes like a breath of fresh air but so it is. This five piece have created an album that could have been released in the early seventies with little or nothing to place it in the current decade.

Echoes From The Deep is an album that is unashamedly influenced by early seventies prog. Whilst RPI references to the likes of PFM, Biglietto Per L'Inferno and Quella Vecchia Loccanda (1st album) are valid equally so it shares similarities with early UK prog, particularly Jethro Tull helped by vocalist Andrea Calzoni's similarity to Tull's Ian Anderson (with touches of Bernado Lanzetti and Roger Chapman now and then). If that wasn't enough of a comparison he also play's flute which features heavily throughout. Echoes From The Deep is a powerful album, though with a lighter touch where required, with constantly shifting rhythm's that skip and dance around with heavy emphasis on keyboard's, particularly organ. The guitars too are very retro sounding with a largely clean tone which works well in the overall sound. The six compositions are all mainly around the seven to nine minute mark with lots of busy instrumental workouts making it compelling listening. Worth noting and unusual for an Italian prog band it features English vocals.

If the normal use of the Italian language has been a barrier for you venturing into the world of RPI then you'll have no problems here. If you're up for something retro it's Well worth checking out.