Silver
Key is a progressive rock band from Milan whose roots date back to
1992. After many problems, a long hiatus, some line up changes and a
period passed performing Marillion's covers, in 2012 they finally
released a début album featuring only original compositions on the
independent label Ma.Ra.Cash Records, “In The Land Of Dreams”.
The current line up features founder member Yuri Abietti (vocals,
acoustic guitar, samples) along with Carlo Monti (electric and
acoustic guitars), Alberto Grassi (bass), Davide Manara (keyboards,
synthesizers, samples) and Viviano Crimella (drums, percussion) but
in the studio they were helped by some special guests such as Ettore
Salati (guitar – from The Watch, The RedZen, SoulnginE and Alex Carpani Band) and Massimo Parretti (keyboards – from the historic band
Alusa Fallax). The overall sound is in debt with bands such as
Genesis and Marillion, of course, but Silver Key managed to add to their music a touch
of originality and all their love for the works of writers as Howard Phillips Lovecraft and Robert William Chambers with excellent results.
 |
| Silver Key 2012 |
Calm,
lasting beauty comes only in dream, and this solace the world had
thrown away when in its worship of the real it threw away the secrets
of childhood and innocence... There are twists of time and space, of
vision and reality, which only a dreamer can divine... (H.P.
Lovecraft, from The Silver Key). Well, the band was named
after the title of a short story by H.P. Lovecraft and I think that
this short quote along with the beautiful art cover by Claudio Bergamin could introduce you to Silver Key's work better than all my
words.
The
evocative, dreamy title track, “In the Land of Dreams”, opens the
album inviting you to look at the world as it is in your dreams, even
if it's very difficult at times. The following “More Than I Can”
is darker and reminds you that life is too short for all the things
you would like to do. Next comes “Learn To Let Go” which is about
the need to break free from the chains of your worries and fears to
escape from the daily grind. After comes “Millennium” that begins softly, then
the music and lyrics conjure up apocalyptic visions with black clouds of
fiery angels pouring down from the sky.
“The
Silver Key” is the main course of the album. It's a long, complex
suite featuring lyrics inspired by the literary works of H.P.
Lovecraft and R.W. Chambers. The silver key opens the gates of a
fantastic dreamland but as we grow up we risk to lose our capacity to
enter the realms of dreams. In this sumptuous suite the music and
lyrics try to take us on a dangerous journey through forgotten
memories and dark, fantastic cities, in a quest for our lost
innocence.
The
conclusive “Welcome” begins with a delicate piano pattern. It's a
bitter-sweet ballad that blends hope and regret with a strong sense
of melody... “I welcome myself / Standing on the edge of what I'm
going to be / I welcome my death...”.
On
the whole a very good album, especially recommended if you like bands
such as The Watch.
You can listen to complete album in streaming HERE
You can listen to complete album in streaming HERE
Silver
Key: In The Land Of Dreams (2012). Other opinions:
Steven
Reid: As debut efforts go, In The Land Of Dreams really is rather
special. Yes it is neo-prog as you've come to expect it and yes you
could, if you were being uncharitable, suggest there's little new
here. However Silver Key deliver from the heart and take you wilfully
on their musical journey as they do so. In itself a feat worth
celebrating... (read the complete review HERE)
More
info:
No comments:
Post a Comment