E’ is the second studio album by UT New Trolls and was
released in 2015 on the independent label Ma.Ra.Cash Records with a
renewed line up featuring Gianni Belleno (drums, acoustic guitar,
vocals), Maurizio Salvi (keyboards, piano, Hammond), Stefano Genti
(keyboards, vocals), Claudio Cinquegrana (electric and acoustic
guitar), Alessio Trapella (bass, vocals) and Umberto Dadà (vocals)
plus the special guest Elisabetta Garetti (violin). The album was
recorded trying to recreate the atmosphere of the early seventies
with all the band playing in the same room using vintage instruments
and analog recording techniques. This time the prog soul of the band
prevails on its melodic vein and I’m sure that Italian prog lovers
will be pleased...
The opener “Dies Irae” starts with the violin in the foreground,
then the rhythm section and the other instruments come in blending
baroque music and rock while the lyrics try to convey a message of
hope. The beauty of life remains, even in misfortune, and you have to
look inside yourself to discover that there’s world in a grain of
sand and to find the eternity in an hour… A kind of hymn to life!
The long, complex “Oggi non sono spento” (Today I’m not off)
begins by a long instrumental section in a jazz rock vein with Latin
rock elements. You can hear a dynamic rhythm section, suggestive
organ waves and an electric guitar solo that could recall Santana
until the pace slackens and melodic vocals invite you to reflect
about the mysterious adventure of life and urge to enjoy the day
keeping the flames of your inner fire always burning...
“Cambiamenti” begins in rockier way, then the rhythm calms down
and there’s a softer section where melancholic soaring vocals on an
acoustic guitar arpeggio express a love for life that is stronger
than regrets and disappointments. Every rose has its thorns, lies or
unfaithful relationships are just thorns that can’t erase the
beauty of life... Then the rhythm rises again for the finale where
the lyrics invite you to get up and fight to change the world and
make it better.
The short, dreamy instrumental “Trullo Lungo” closes the first
part of the album with a good display of keyboards in the forefront.
The title refers to a picturesque village in Apulia where the band
found a moment of relax and inspiration documented by some pictures
that you can find in the booklet...
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| Ut New Trolls on stage, 2014 |
The second part of the album opens with the brilliant “Cherubino”,
a lively piece about a kind of psychedelic, beautiful dream where the
borders between heaven and hell get blurred, sacred and profane meet
each other and the cherub who stands the guard to the tree of life
lower his sword and let your soul fly free, in harmony with the
universe...
Next comes the gorgeous instrumental “Opera Suite”, a challenging
piece that blends with freshness and gusto some classical influences
with the powerful energy of a rock band. Here the musicians are able
to express in an effective way all their pleasure to play together...
“Io...” (I…) is a melodic ballad about time passing by. The
music and words conjure up the image of a peaceful landscape at dawn
and try to express the desire of a better world where men respect
each other and the environment, a world with a soul that can make the
dreams come true. Life is short, so carpe diem and try to not
waste your time...
The beautiful instrumental “Ostinato” closes the album with a
perfect exercise of style, blending again in an impeccable way
classical forms and rock rhythms. The title refers to a musical term
defining a short repeating element, usually only a bar or two
long, though the term may also be applied to such longer
repetitions as occur in a chaconne or passacaglia... (quote from
the New Penguin Dictionary of Music). Anyway, this is an ostinato sui
genris and there’s no room for boredom, it’s really a gran
finale!
On the whole, a very good album!
You can listen to the complete album (plus two bonus tracks) HERE
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