Submarine Silence - Submarine Silence

Year of Release: 2001
Label: Mellow Records
Catalog Number: MMP 419
Format: CD
Total Time: 46:18:00

To be honest Submarine Silence is more of a project rather than a "real" band. Because Italian band Moongarden already had one track on the Genesis tribute album The River Of Constant Change, label boss Mauro Moroni launched the idea that some Moongarden members would tackle yet another Genesis classic but release it under a different name. That's how both David Cremoni and Cristiano Roversi from Moongarden were joined by Paolo Sterzi on violin to record and deliver "Entangled." This version was received with great enthusiasm, so Sterzi was replaced by Emilio Pizzoccoli from Luca Donini Quartet on drums in order to record a full album.

Right from the opening chords of the solitary piano on "The Door," it is clear that the strictly instrumental music from this Italian trio will hold some very strong Genesis influences. Especially the Tony Banks elements are strongly present which is probably why the booklet also contains a line from a 1984 Banks interview in which he states "the best things come when they happen naturally." And "natural" it is, when the rhythmic "Bicycle Ride From Earth To Saturn" once again introduces those typical synth sprints whilst the mellotron is used as a backdrop for the Hackett-like licks. I also like the alternating sections between electric and acoustic passages in order to broaden the tension. The acoustic guitar even slightly reminds me of Supertramp's "Even In The Quietest Moments." The song ends in an experimental mood with some backward recorded loops. With "Elven's Lullaby" the atmosphere steers towards the old school of SFF better known as Schicke Führs Fröhling. With the first part of "Mr. Submarine's Ordinary Day," the music sounds heavenly when acoustic guitars and mellotron blend as one in order to give it a rythmic direction. It is the electric guitar which once again introduces the name Genesis before the music becomes very solemn and almost sacral. The only setback with Submarine Silence is the fact that certain passages are repeated way too often and take much too much time. In the end these ongoing themes form an anti-climax to the otherwise ingenious offerings we get.

In order to hide that repetitive nature one often needs a solo instrument and even if you'd like to hear some flute one has to wait for synths during "Winter Glows" in order to change the atmosphere followed in its footsteps by some Rothery-like guitars. The mellotron sound which we have all learned to love during The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" is all over the place during "Venice, A Spooky Love Story" whilst some church organ spices the song in a bombastic way. Short synth interventions once again introduce material which could easily be an outtake of Tony Banks' Curious Feeling album. During "Shores Where Time Stands Still" we are back in the Genesis household during their Wind And Wuthering and Duke period, dominated by heavy strings. But then the acoustic guitar takes over repeating the same theme over and over again which sadly "kills" the song. "Red Sun" has an intro which holds the Procol Harum legacy before it all becomes a forum for guitarist David Cremoni. "Porto Di Venere" ends this album by means of a theme which once again is repeated too often. When the guitar solo stops, an organ keeps on playing the chords way back in the distance of the mix before it stops altogether.

All in all, Submarine Silence is a truly wonderful band displaying some great craftmanship but it has to work on some of the arrangements which do include parts which are repeated way too much. Later this year Submarine Silence will release its second album to be called There's Something Very Strange In Her Little Room on the new Rock Revelation label. Meanwhile the band is also involved in the prestigious Kalevala Project which is a joined project between Colossus magazine and Musea which will result in a triple CD. Oh yes, before I forget: to make the Genesis link even stronger, the band has opted for a sleeve designed by Paul Whitehead known especially for his artwork for Trespass, Foxtrot and Nursery Crime. He sure makes the picture complete!

Tracklisting:
The Door (1:12) / Bicycle Ride From Earth To Saturn (8:17) / Elven:s Lullaby (2:26) / Mr. Submarine:s Ordinary Day (Part 1) (8:29) / Winter Glows (5:06) / Venice, A Spooky Love Story (5:34) / Mr. Submarine:s Ordinaryday (Part 2) (1:45) / Shores Where Time Stands Still (4:05) / Red Sun (4:01) / Porto Di Venere (5:25)

Musicians:
David Cremoni - 6 & 12 string acoustic guitars, electric guitars
Emilio Pizzoccoli - drums, percussions, tambourine
Cristiano Roversi - keyboards, Moog, Polymoog, Mellotron, bass pedals

Discography:
Submarine Silence (2001)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin IT

Added: June 2nd 2002
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.cristianoroversi.com/subsilence.htm
Hits: 1792
Language: english