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Review:
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This fine Italian band is rooted in 1974 but it took
a while before Il Castello Di Atlante presented their first
album entitled Sono Io Il Signore Delle Terre A Nord in1992.
And it’s already five years ago that they released their
latest effort Quintessenza (2004), their fifth studio-album.
Il Castello Di Atlante also performed in Mexico on the annual
Baja Prog Festival and recently in Japan. But the most remarkable
fact is that this new CD (7 songs, running time almost 70
minutes) is recorded with all members of the Seventies line-up
after original bass player Dino Fiore recently returned!
- Since I started to write about progrock in the early Nineties
(SI Magazine/Background Magazine), Il Castello Di Atlante
is one of those bands I frequently stumbled upon from the
very first beginning when I got new CD’s to review. Listening
to their new album one of my conclusions is that their sound
is still a very melodic and harmonic blend of Seventies
symphonic rock and neo-symphonic rock (hints of early Marillion).
Most of the alternating compositions clock between 10 and
20 minutes featuring flowing shifting moods, often compelling
interplay between sensitive electric guitar and varied keyboards
and warm (a bit melancholical) Italian vocals. Their strongest
point is the tasteful colouring by classical instruments
(piano, guitar and violin) and a wide range of keyboards,
from bombastic church-organ and fat synthesizer flights
to tender Grand piano and delicate harpsichord. -
Although I miss absolute highlights, to me this albums
sounds as pleasant progrock that will please the more romantic
oriented progheads.
www.progwalhalla.com
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