After
a long period of hibernation (more than forty five years!), in 2019
Pholas Dactylus reappeared on the Italian prog scene horizon with a
new album entitled Hieros Gamos. It was released on the
independent label AMS with a line up featuring three original
members, Paolo Carelli (vocals), Rinaldo Linati (bass, acoustic
guitar) and Maurizio Pancotti (piano, keyboards) along with two new
musicians, Csaba Papp (drums) and Tobias Winter (guitar). This album
represents a bridge between the past and the present of a band that
is still able to blend music and words with great personality and
poetical force. The beautiful artwork by Tiziano Crisanti in some way
tries to depict this concept...
The
album opens with the long, complex title track, “Hieros Gamos”.
The title refers to Greek mythology and indicates a sacred marriage
that plays out between a god and a goddess. It’s dedicated to the
memory of original Pholas Dactylus’ drummer Giampiero Nava who
passed away in 2014, as the band was planning the reunion and sound
like a heartfelt, poetical elegy. The goes through many changes in
mood and rhythm while the lyrics evoke images and memories of a lost
friend and build a bridge that does not divide, a bridge over
destiny, a bridge over a morning cloud that binds light and darkness,
life and death... A wonderful track!
The
second part of the album, entitled “Ognuno da lande diverse”
(Everyone from different lands) sees the separate contributes of the
three historic members of Pholas Dactylus. The first two come from
Rinaldo Linati that composed and played “A Personal Gift” and
“Yellow And Blue” with his acoustic guitar in a style that might
sound closer to that of Leo Kottke (but not up to that level) than to
the Italian prog tradition.
Then
it’s the turn of four short tracks by keyboardist Maurizio
Pancotti. The first one, “I Don’t Want...” features a bluesy
piano solo with narrative vocals by Solange Menegale who recites one
of her poems (half in English and half in Italian) dealing with a
problematic relationship and the difficulty to express feelings with
words and to comprehend each other. “Ogni volta che tocco il tuo
viso” (Every time I touch your face) follow in the same vein with
the narrative vocals of Solange Menegale reciting another romantic
poem on a crepuscular piano background. The dreamy “Ninna nanna per
Gianluca” (Lullaby for Gianluca) and the classical inspired piano
solo “Une valse pour nous” close the space reserved to the
pianist.
 |
| Pholas Dactylus, 2017 |
The
poet Paolo Carelli ends the album with “Ballata di un mercante di
sogni” (Ballad of a merchant of dreams), a piece that features just
narrative vocals, sound effects, a drum roll and some touches of
piano in the background. Of course, words have their rhythm, their
evocative power, a visionary force that can stir your emotions and
make you dream of unknown worlds…
On
the whole, an excellent album for the first part while the second one
sound to my ears more like a filler and I fear it could be
disappointing for prog fans.
You
can listen to the complete album HERE
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