Camera
Chiara were formed in Salerno in the second half of the first decade of this century.
After a first demo in 2008, in 2013 they self-released an interesting
eponymous début album with a line up featuring Francesco Lembo
(keyboards), Danilo Lupi (bass), Vincenzo Manzi (guitar) and Antonio
Pappacoda (drums). The name of the band was inspired by a book about
photography by Roland Barthes, La chambre claire (translated
in English as Camera Lucida) and the love of the band for the
art of photography is also portrayed on the album cover that in some
way gives you the right key to approach the musical content of this
brilliant work.
Barthes
considers photography as asymbolic, irreducible to the codes of
language or culture, acting on the body as much as on the mind and he
develops the twin concepts of studium and punctum: the
first denoting the cultural, linguistic and political interpretation
of a photograph, the latter denoting the wounding, personally
touching detail which establishes a direct relationship with the
object or person within it. Well, on their website the band invite
the listener to focus on the punctum of the “musical photographs”
contained in the album. This is a completely instrumental work, all
you have to do is close your eyes and let the music drive...
The short opener “Tufa Domes, Pyramid Lake” sets a mysterious, dark atmosphere. Although there are no liner notes in the booklet, the title seems to refer to a famous picture shot in 1867 by Timothy H. O'Sullivan which portrays an almost lunar landscape on the Pyramid Lake, a place near Reno, Nevada while the music recalls Pink Floyd.
The short opener “Tufa Domes, Pyramid Lake” sets a mysterious, dark atmosphere. Although there are no liner notes in the booklet, the title seems to refer to a famous picture shot in 1867 by Timothy H. O'Sullivan which portrays an almost lunar landscape on the Pyramid Lake, a place near Reno, Nevada while the music recalls Pink Floyd.
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| Timothy H. O'Sullivan: Tufa Domes, Pyramid Lake, Nevada |
The
following “Chiaroscuri” is a long, complex track marked by the
constant contrast between dark and light atmospheres. It' another
track that testifies the deep passion for photography of the band. In
fact, chiaroscuro (Italian for light-dark) is a word that
defines the artistic use of strong contrasts between light and dark,
usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition or a picture.
Here pulsing, tense bass lines contrast with light, soaring keyboards
waves and electric guitar patterns while calm moments are followed by
stormy passages. Every now and again Goblin or L'Ombra della Sera
come to mind but the music does not sound derivative at all. A real
treat!
Then
comes “Maschere cadute” (Fallen masks), a nice short track full
of positive energy that leads to the reflective “Nel tuo mondo”
(In your world). Here the atmosphere is dreamy but never relaxed
while shadows and lights seem to dance all around. A great track!
 |
| Camera Chiara 2013 |
“Danzano
le memorie” (Memories are dancing) is a short, romantic track with
the piano in the forefront that almost melts into the following “In un gioco
di specchi” (In a game of mirrors) where you can hear a haunting
marching beat and experience some strange exotic flavours. Then the
rhythm rises taking you to mysterious territories where your
imagination can run free conjuring up psychedelic visions...
“Come
il bianco col nero” (As white with black) is another complex track
where influences from the past and modern sounds are mixed in an
original way with brilliant results. Then “Il nuovo e il vecchio
giorno” (The new and the old day) concludes the album with a good
dose of electricity and powerful blows of optimism.
This
work is completely instrumental but very rich in ideas and there is
no weak point. According to the band's website, among their influences you
can find bands and artists with a different background such as Air, Balletto di Bronzo, Banco del
Mutuo Soccorso, Biglietto per l'Inferno, Genesis, Goblin, King
Crimson, Le Orme, Philip Glass, Pink Floyd, Rush, Soft Machine, Tool
and Vangelis but I think that Camera Chiara have succeeded in mixing
all these influences with great personality and excellent composition
skills. This album is really worth listening to... Have a try!
You
can listen in streaming to the complete album HERE
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