H20 - Due


Year of Release: 2001
Label: Kaliphonia Records
Catalog Number: KRC-022
Format: CD
Total Time: 49:35:00

Contrary to big brother Mellow, the Kaliphonia label has always cared for a handful of artists with the goal of delivering pure, complex, contemporary Italian progressive music. With names like Deus Ex Machina, Consorzio Acqua Potabile (CAP) and H2O the future of the Italian scene is in the capable hands of Raoul Caprio and his Kaliphonia label.

Four years after the debut Unopuntosei the same trio is at work in an identical fashion, which means that acoustic sections and amplified parts will constantly alternate in order to keep it interesting throughout. Sometimes the voice of Luca Prandi gets close to that of Greg Lake, whilst the music offers us a colourful mixture from Genesis, Gentle Giant and the Italian progressive school. Opening track "Prometeus Breath" is filled with nice synth sounds combined with swift guitar solos. The over-romantic "L'altra Aurora" proves that simplicity can be wonderful, that a trifling set of instruments certainly can produce some interesting music. That's why the piano often is the backbone for many of the compositions, as is the case in "The Darkness For The Light" which almost leaves the music begging to be locked in the studio with a classical ensemble. The dark sounding intro is swapped for a rhythmic conclusion where the guitar is guided through a chaotic whole. Some combinations of synth, guitar and voice, then again, lead towards a one-off marriage between the "old" Genesis and PFM as is the case during "Stop." The album closes with the epic "Due." Opening with dramatic piano, the voice is backed by cello and a wonderful classical arrangement that is so typical of the Italian school, yet is also reminiscent of The Enid. Tasty, menacing synths announce themselves as ominous dark rain clouds, whereas the piano steers towards Genesis like a first ray of sunshine piercing through the musical blanket of clouds. Without any doubt the strongest track on this album and a proof of the band's craftsmanship. From now on the expression "see Venice before you die" has to be rephrased into "first listen to H2O and then go and sleep for eternity". Brilliant!


Tracklisting:
Prometeus Breath (7:11) / L:altra Aurora (8:45) / The Darkness For The Light (10:07) / Stop (7:07) / Due (16:32)

Musicians:
Claudio Andreotti - bass
Rocco Malaguzzi - guitars
Luca Prandi - keyboards, voice

Discography:
Unopuntosei (1997)
Due (2001)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin IT

Added: May 15th 2001
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website:
Hits: 3021
Language: english

  

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