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Review : :
First a disclaimer to mellow out all 70’s Italian prog enthusiasts: this is NOT the
same Metamorfosi that delivered a masterpiece of an album called “Inferno” sometime
in 1973. Which is a shame, because had it been THAT Metamorfosi, I suspect all of
the many questionable passages on this album would have been averted.
Given the intro, it’s clear that this album is far from being a personal favorite,
and although it does have many stunning sections, they are unfortunately ruined by
many others which were not as inspired. After hearing the album in its entirety one
is left with a bittersweet taste of what if. After all, the formula these guys are
trying to explore in this album is ripe with potential: An acoustic and an electric
trio, trading riffs and weaving sounds against each other. Flugelhorn and Theremin
on the same album? You bet! I only wish the improvisation had been minimized in
favor of more careful composition.
The music offered here is certainly very cinematographic, and ranges from dark,
haunting oppression to almost pastoral-sounding passages, touching everything in
between. It is also the sort of thing one can probably enjoy much more in a live
setting. Unfortunately, I did not witness this performance live, so all I have to
judge this music by is the album, which really does not function as a whole. I think
some of the sections have the seeds of really excellent ideas which, had these
musicians opted to explore further, would have given way to truly magnificent music.
As it stands, it’s more of a tease than an actual orgasm, in spite of the
overabundance of self-gratification the band members lavished upon themselves on
this recording.
Please don’t get me wrong: the musicianship on display here is beyond question. But
after listening to this album in its entirety 8 times over the last 4 weeks (and one
final time after the power was restored in the wake of Isabel), I was unable to find
enough strength here to make this album more than a soundtrack for a movie I’ve yet
to see.
I don’t know if there are also volumes 1 & 2 in the series of collaborations, and I
certainly admit I haven’t heard them. All I can say is that this particular
recording is certainly not going to make me rush out to buy the other companion CD’s
if indeed they do exist.
In short, I think this one is only for the diehard Isildur’s Bane fans, or those
with a predilection for musical meandering around a stream of consciousness.
Rating: 6 keyboards out of 10
Reviewer: Luis Nasser
: : Visit the artist web site : :
Isildurs Bane
Metamorfosi Trio
: : Credits : :
Composed parts: by Johansson.
Arranged parts: by Christophs & Severinsson.
Improvised: by METAMORFOSI TRIO.
: : Discography : :
Isildurs Bane Mind vol. 1
Isildurs Bane Mind vol. 2
Isildurs Bane & Metamorfosi Trio Mind vol. 3
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