Ælementi come from Rome and have been active for more than ten years before realising their debut album. Formed in 2007 and led by guitarist and composer Daniele Lulli, all along this time they have honed their skills and tried to find a personal way to merge different influences ranging from Italian prog bands such as Banco del Mutuo Soccorso or Premiata Forneria Marconi with newer, heavier sounds inspired by likes of Rush or Shadow Gallery. In 2017 they finally managed to release their debut work, entitled Una questione di principio (A matter of principle), thanks to the interest of the independent labels Lizard Records and Andromeda Relix. On the album, the line up features along with Daniele Lulli (guitar) also Francesca Piazza (vocals), Manuele D'Anastasio (drums) and Angelo Celani (bass) plus the guests Dario Pierini (keyboards), Giordana Sanfilippo (backing vocals) and Carlotta Sanfilippo (backing vocals) while the nice art work is provided by Maria Chiara Santoro. The overall sound blends vintage and modern with strong melodic accents and a slight leaning to AOR that is worth listening to, especially if you like other Roman bands such as Magnolia, Layra or Laviàntica...
The opener “Principio” (Beginning) is a very short instrumental that sets the atmosphere and leads to the melancholic “Lontananza” (Distance) where the music and lyrics depict an overwhelming feeling of absence and where the idea of distance becomes almost a real character to blame, a merciless enemy to fear. As the music flows, reality and bad dreams get blurred under the moonlight...
The careless, melodic “Vuoto” (Emptiness) tells in music and words of an emotionless person who can’t get out of his state of apathy and find a new interest for what’s going on around him. Then it’s the turn of the more elaborated “Straniero” (Stranger) that features an excellent instrumental middle section and is one of my favourite tracks on the album. It’s about a ghost that lingers on Earth expressionless, lost and confused, uncertain about what to do next. He feels like a shadow that tries again and again to take off and fly away without success, a transparent, solitary stranger walking on the streets of the world without a goal, haunted by nostalgia and charmed by new shapes and colours. It’s pointless wondering where he’s bound… Who knows what’s waiting for us in the afterlife?
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| Aelementi 2017 |
The light, melodic “Delirio” (Delirium) is about haunting, irrepressible feelings and overwhelming pulsations while the following “Voce” (Voice) is more complex and deals with the regrets and memories unchained by an old yellow piece of paper with a familiar telephone number written on it. A sensual voice comes out of the blue but it might be too late for listening to it...
The closer “Addio” (Farewell) is a beautiful piece about a troubled relationship where hate and love seem almost be playing a never ending game on the chessboard of fate and where emotions and passions are blended in explosive mix under the eye of a threatening sky. There’s an impending sense of tragedy but there’s also room for hope as the music flows in a crescendo of tension and intensity…
All in all, I think that this a good album even if it’s not one of the most challenging you can find. Anyway, have a try! You can listen to it on deezer or spotify
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