...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI...


..::OPIS::..

Pierwsza płyta Il Tempio Delle Clessidre wywołała spore poruszenie wśród fanów prog-rocka, głównie włoskiego. Nawet były głosy, szczerze mówiąc całkiem uzasadnione, że był to najlepszy prog-rockowy debiut od dobrych kliku lat. W każdym razie wydane trzy lata temu „Il Tempio delle Clessidre” było dużym wydarzeniem. Być może też dlatego, że śpiewał tu były wokalista najsłynniejszego składu Museo Rosenbach, Stefano „Lupo” Galifi (a na koncertach grali całego „Zarathustrę”!). Dlatego z tym większym zainteresowaniem zająłem się „alieNatura”.

Mówi się, że zwykle na pierwszą płytę pracuje się całe życie, a na drugą – to w tym czasie od pierwszej do drugiej. Albo się za bardzo pośpieszyli, albo po prostu nie ma co liczyć na więcej, bo „alieNatura” jednak debiutowi ustępuje. Niestety nie ma już Galifiego i może to też miało jakiś wpływ na efekt końcowy? Który wcale nie jest taki zły, bo to płyta zupełnie porządna – bardzo solidny, bardzo tradycyjny Italo-prog – dłuższe utwory, bardziej rozbudowane, dużo klawiszy i to tych raczej vintage – czyli syntezatory analogowe, mellotron, organy, moog. Oczywiście mocne odniesienia do muzyki klasycznej, ale też do klasycznych wykonawców włoskiego prog-rocka, a przede wszystkim Museo Rosenbach, Banco Delmutuo Soccorso i tym podobnych, a także porządny, dobrze wyszkolony technicznie wokalista o mocnym głosie. Trudno napisać coś więcej o płycie, która jest absolutnie typowa dla swojego gatunku, a jakościowo nie budzi specjalnych zastrzeżeń.

Jak widać po czasach utworów dominują rzeczy nieco bardziej rozbudowane i mamy też jedną suitę. Całkiem niezłą, ale w pewnym momencie zaczynała nieco nudzić. Dużo lepiej wypadają krótsze utwory z pierwszej części z najlepszym na płycie „Onirica Possessione”. Początek płyty też jest w jakimś sensie typowy, bo „Kaze” to spokojny instrumetal, łagodnie przechodzący w „Senza Colori”, a takie rozwiązanie możemy znaleźć na wielu progresywnych krążkach.

Jako, że mam sporą słabość do Italo-proga, trochę przez palce patrzę na mankamenty „alieNatura” (właściwie jeden podstawowy – muzycznie gorsze od debiutu), a skupiam się raczej na zaletach – rozmach, dobre wykonanie, niezłe melodie., oraz ogólnie dobre wrażenie. Wcale przyjemnie się tego słucha. Solidne siedem gwiazdek.

Wojciech Kapała


Il Tempio Delle Clessidre is an Italian band formed in 2006 in the Genoa city. The band initially had Stefano 'Lupo' Galifi (original vocalist from Museo Rosenbach), but after the departure of Stefano that went band to reunite with his former band they convened Francesco Ciapica for his place. The rest of the band is still the same, Elisa Montaldo (keyboards and vocals), Fabio Gremo (bass), Giulio Canepa (guitars) and Paolo Tixi (drums). The band have released their second album AlieNatura (2013) by Black Widow Records earlier this year.
Black Widow is a specialized label which pretty much focuses on what I like to call 'dark Prog'. If you have no idea what I'm talking about I'll make it easier for you: Gothic influenced Prog. This is their specialty.

I started my listening with the nice booklet in hands and when the opening track 'Kaze' begins one can hear strong and well recorded music out of the speakers. This makes you sit down and pay attention immediately. The Japanese sounds that come out of the track are quite hypnotic. The moment of truth comes with the following song 'Senza Colori', the first track of AlieNatura (2013) with vocals. As I mentioned, the Gothic and somber moments are all around here, but at the same time the band has a strong root on the Symphonic Italian style too.

The continuation, 'Il Passo', is even more atmospheric and full of little details. Its Symphonic apex lies on the double guitars and a number of great keyboards. Amazing track! The acoustic 'Fino Alla Vetta' is the next piece of music. It's basically a ballad with acoustic guitars till around the 3rd minute of the song. After that it gets a bit heavier, especially because of the organs of Elisa Montaldo. That's when it gets really interesting.

'Onirica Possessione' is a damn strong track! Classic Genesis meets Italian 70's Prog at its best moments. Powerful vocals melodies by Francesco Ciapica and the Symphonic side of Prog Rock speaking really loud. One of the best tracks of the AlieNatura (2013). Weird last part though! 'Notturna' is a smaller interlude with a nature kind of feeling to it, basically commanded by keyboards and Elisa vocals. Beautiful piece of music!

The last track on the album is an almost 15 minutes suite with 5 parts called 'Il Cacciatore'. This last song is full of heavy guitars riffs and grim keyboards, that's how it starts really. It's great how they used the vocals between the verses. It helps create a really powerful mood in their music. 'Il Cacciatore' is all about changes and beautiful yet melancholic music. You have to listen with attention but still, you will bang your head with the riffs!

Il Tempio Delle Clessidre came as a big surprise to me as I didn't listen their debut album and knew nothing about them. Now I can honestly say that AlieNatura (2013) is one of the most powerful releases of the year! Perfect musicianship, great production and songwriting with a fresh sound. The album is powerful and melodic at the same time as the great Prog albums should be!

ProgShine


Alienatura is the second album by Il Tempio delle Clessidre and was released in 2013 on the independent label Black Widow Records with a renewed line up featuring Elisa Montaldo (keyboards, vocals), Fabio Gremo (bass, classical guitar, backing vocals), Giulio Canepa (electric and acustic guitar, backing vocals), Paolo Tixi (dums, backing vocals) and Francesco Ciapica (vocals). After the excellent eponymous debut album, the old vocalist Lupo Galifi left the band to join the reformed Museo Rosenbach and Francesco Ciapica stepped in proving that in Italy there's no shortage of excellent singers. All the good qualities of the band's previous album are confirmed here, the overall sound is a wonderful mix of vintage sounds and new ideas and all the compositions are convincing and well performed. Somehow the beautiful art cover by Alessandro Sala depicts in a very effective way the content of the music and lyrics inviting you to wander under the moon, looking for the right balance between your every day life and an alien nature that the contemporary society can't understand.
The beautiful opener "Kaze" sets the atmosphere. It's an instrumental track with a touch of exotic mysticism where you can hear lost, distant sounds and voices still blowing in the wind. In fact, kaze is a Japanese word that means wind and the music flows away with many changes, carrying you from east to west, from Oriental waves to echoes of native American rites... By the way, on this track you can hear for a moment the voice of Yoshiko Kase, a Japanese friend of the band and a passionate prog fan.

Next comes "Senza colori" (Colourless) that depicts in music and words a man on the edge of a deep personal crises who reflects about his past errors. Slowly part of him gets lost in the spiral of time, his memories get blurred and his hopes melt, suffocated by an oppressive reality. The mood is dark, but never say never! Even when his world seems crumbling down his inner will is still pulsing and pushes him to find a balance to repair what's wrong and to look for that kind of madness that's called Truth...

"Il passo" (The step) is another great track that describes a man who's falling down, betrayed by his self confidence and his desire of adventures. He was walking in the mountains, now he can remember nothing but the sound of his steps in the void and the wind blowing around him. He's scared and the night is coming down. Nobody will find him, lost in a solitary ravine, injured, surrounded by the desperate roots of the trees and naked rocks. His rage burns inside his chest as he shouts for the last time... Oh, what a lucky man he was!

"Fino alla vetta" (Up to the mountain top) is about hiking in the Alps and tells in music and words about the spiritual experience of a day spent in touch with beautiful, breathtaking panoramas, far from the daily grind. At dawn you can walk to the top breathing fresh air and listening to the melodic sound of soft rain drops falling on the trees until you get lost under a spell, led by the moon, free from the chains of civilization, in harmony with Mother Nature...

On the dark, nightmarish "Onirica possessione" (Oneiric possession) the music and lyrics describe in a theatrical way a very troubled night. As the veil of darkness comes down you fall asleep in a vortex of obscure thoughts, then your mind begins to fly across scary, bleak landscapes. You're filled with a strong sense of fear and risk to get lost, eternal prisoner of your madness and of your ill dreams. Then you see a creek in a wood and clear water flowing. Maybe there's another reality, you try to go forward to touch the illusion of a life after death while your thoughts fall down like autumn leaves... But soon you realize that your feet are sinking in the quicksand, the burden of your pain makes you heavy, the curtain opens and a crazy, dramatic play begins... In the last section you can hear the suggestive call of a demon and his false promises interpreted by Elisa Montaldo.

"Notturna" (Nocturnal) is a short, dreamy piece where you can fully appreciate Elisa Montaldo lead vocals. Here the music and lyrics depict arcane rites of cosmic harmony under the moon and a myriad of dancing stars, an ethereal celebration in honour of a pagan goddess who speaks of mountains, trees, rocks and of a world where your soul is free to fly high...

The magnificent epic "Il cacciatore" (The Hunter) concludes this excellent work in a perfect way. It's divided into five parts and tells the story of a hunter who gets lost in the forest following the tracks of his pray. He's tired, stranded, injured. Who is the pray now? When he meets a wolf he's almost helpless, ha can't use his bow and arrow anymore. But the wolf is merciful and protects him. At last he repents, he understand that shooting down an innocent life is pointless and cruel. So, he becomes a new man who's finally aware of the importance of living in a perfect balance with Mother Nature... Well, a nice fable and another great track!

On the whole, this is really a wonderful album, full of passionate melodies, mellow symphonic passages and a pinch of melodramma. I think that this is a real must for every prog lover!

andrea



..::TRACK-LIST::..

1. Kaze (Ciò Che Il Vento Porta Con sé) 04:15
2. Senza Colori 08:30
3. Il Passo 09:25
4. Fino alla Vetta 07:42
5. Onirica Possessione 09:08
6. Notturna 02:40
7. Il Cacciatore 14:50
- La Vera Preda
- Volo di Rapace
- La Lince
- Il Lupo
- Il Cacciatore



..::OBSADA::..

Elisa Montaldo - Voice, Keyboards, Piano, Organ, Concertina
Giulio Canepa - Guitars
Francesco Ciapica - Voice
Paolo 'Paolo' Tixi -Drums
Fabio Gremo - Bass



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_4aG32SfRs


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