Castello Di Atlante, Il - L'Ippogrifo


Year of Release: 1993
Label: Vinyl Magic
Catalog Number: VMNP013
Format: CD
Total Time: 54:37:00

This band originally formed in the seventies, but regrouped out of the sudden re-interest in the genre. In '92 they released the great Sono Io Il Signore Delle Terre A Nord which made me label the band as the Quella Vechia Locanda of the nineties. Because it took the band a long time to get this release together, their record company released Passo Dopo Passo, an album consisting of live and early recordings from the period between 1976 and 1984. Although rather important from a historical point of view, the quality throughout this record was appaling. Luckily the band struck back with this new [in 1993] L'ippogrifo [the unicorn - JB]. This album has again been recorded at the by now legendary Synergy Studios in a produc-tion by Beppe Crovella. However, this time around the band hasn't been using a lot of these so called vintage keyboards in the studio. Instead they stuck to their own equipment with an emphasis on acoustic instruments.

Il Castello Di Atlante has a medieval feel to their music, other than Minimal Vital. It's mainly due to the use of the acoustic guitar and flute that you get this feel, but also from the use of the occasional trumpet like in "La Vittoria Di Er." Also the band has a great violin player as a fifth member. Massimo Di Lauro gives the band an extra dimension by means of his superb playing, a thing which gives a nice classic touch to the music. The outro of "Volta La Pagi-na" is strongly reminiscent of Renaissance at their peak. If you listen carefully to Renaissance's work, you must admit they too have based their material around classically inspired themes! In "Chrysalis" the story is told about the band, how they originally met and how they got back together again by chance. The album closes with the instrumental "Chorale II," the sequel to "Chorale I" that is to be found on Passo Dopo Passo [Step By Step - JB].

If you're into subtle symphonic landscapes with a folky feel thrown in for good measure, then Il Castello Di Atlante will be just the band for you. The CD comes in an absolutely stunning digipack. Strange how small companies can release such great packaging whilst the majors still try to force us buying those dodgy jewel cases!


Tracklisting:
La Vittoria Di Er (10:17) / Volta La Pagina (8:21) / L'Ippogrifo (11:07) / E Recito Anch'io (9:03) / Pioggia (2:50) / Chrysalis (6:14) / Chorale II (6:43)

Musicians:
Roberto Giordano - keyboards, vocals
Dino Fiore - bass
Aldo Bergamini - guitars, vocals
Paolo Ferrarotti - drums, vocals
Massimo Di Lauro - violin

Discography:
Sono Io Il Signore Delle Terre A Nord (1992)
Passo Dopo Passo (1994)
L'Ippogrifo (1994)
Come Il Seguitare Delle Stagioni (2001)
Quintessenza (2003)
Concerto Acustico (2006)
Capitolo 7 - Tra Le Antiche Mura (2009)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin IT

Added: May 22nd 2001
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.ilcastellodiatlante.com
Hits: 2439
Language: english

  

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