Ellesmere
II – From Sea And Beyond is the second album by Roman project
Ellesmere and was released in 2018 on the independent label AMS
Records. This time along with the talent of composer and multi
instrumentalist Roberto Vitelli (bass,
guitar, synthesizers,
Moog, Mellotron) we can appreciate the contribute of
prestigious guests such as Paolo
Carnelli (piano, electric piano, keyboards, Hammond),
Robert Berry (vocals), Trey Gunn (Warr Guitar), David Jackson
(sax, keyboards), Alan Benjamin (guitar), Brett William Kull
(guitar), Danilo Mintrone (Korg Microkorg), Davy O’List (guitar),
Keith More (guitar), Marco Bernard (bass) and Daniele Pomo (drums,
percussion). The overall sound is richer and more variegated if
compared with the debut album and the influence of bands such as
EL&P, Yes, Kansas or King Crimson is apparent. According to their
label website, this is a conceptual work where every song deals
with a different aspect of the complex relationship between man and
sea, from man’s curiosity and fear towards what is hidden deep
inside the sea to the call for adventure and for travelling to the
end of the known world and beyond. The album artwork by English
painter and designer Colin Elgie tries to depict the musical
content...
The
first four tracks are linked together and form a long suite. The
short opener “Tidal Breath” sets the atmosphere and starts by the
sound of the ocean and the gentle breaking of the waves with a calm
sea, then an ethereal melody soars like a mermaid chant and leads to
“Marine Extravaganza”, an excellent, powerful instrumental track
that could recall Emerson, Lake & Palmer and contains a quote
from King Crimson’s “Red”. Then “Runaway” tells in music
and words of a disquieting dream, a desperate effort to escape from
the chase of mysterious men in black, dark shadows of your past
haunting you and alrming your senses. The short, nightmarish “Marine
Coda” closes the suite with David Jackson’s sax in the forefront.
“The
Schooner” opens the second side of the album and starts by a
sumptuous passage of church-like organ, then the rhythm rises for an
adventurous voyage through Poseidon’s territory. The sea air is
deceptive and you must not rely on your eyes to assess the
distances... The title refers to a type of sailing vessel popular on
both sides of the Atlantic in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The
following “Ridge Fanfare” is another piece in debt with EL&P
that seems to invite you to a joyful ride through the waves while the
final track, “Time, Life Again”, recalls Yes and evokes in music
and words the imaginary course of a flying ship flowing forever in
time upon the sea, towards the sun, through the fire, in search for
an island of peace...
On
the whole, a very good album for symphonic prog lovers!
You
can listen to the complete album HERE
More
info:
No comments:
Post a Comment