ROUND MIDNIGHT

4.5 stars. I'm so excited about the bands that are coming out of Italy. MARYGOLD, THE WATCH, LA MASHERA DI CERA and this band MOONGARDEN. This record has a real modern, almost alternative sound at times.There are RADIOHEAD-vibes at times, partly because of the melancholic theme of the album. It's a record about the loneliness and sadness of living in the big city. How ironic to be so alone when surounded by millions of people. All you have to do is read the title of the songs of this record to see this subject that the band is making music about. Another thing that adds to the melancholy of this album is that it is drenched in mellotron.

It doesn't get any better than the first two songs of this record. "Round Midnight" is a lonely yet catchy song that features the use of chapman stick, vibraphone and ends with a terrific guitar solo and melody. Hard to get this chorus out of my head, actually I like it in my head. "Wounded" is one of my all time favourite songs. It is so amazing, emotional and mellotron laden. The tension is incredible, you think the song is going to blow up, eveything is restrained, held back, with the only relief an impressive soaring guitar solo. You have to hear this song ! "Lucifero" starts out very calm and reserved with vocals and keyboards, but it builds to the point of breaking out almost 4 minutes in. Lots of mellotron too.

"Slowmotion Streets" features processed vocals, cello, aboe and electric piano in a slowmotion song. "Learning To Live Under The Ground" is like an "In Absentia" song. It's hard and heavy with hammond organ, guitar and drums leading the way. Some amazing drum work on this one. The heaviness comes and goes throughout the song. "Coda:Psychedelic Subway Ride" is a short instrumental. Yeah i've been on the subway round midnight, not my favourite place to be. "Nightmare Concrete" features moog, piano, guitar and keyboards. The final track really says a lot by it's title "Oh, By the Way, We're So Many In This City and So Damn Alone", it's a short vocal track with piano.

This is one special album that means a lot to me.