Release Date: 15th
Oct 2013
Label: Crisalide
Music
There
are many Italian progressive bands around and The Ancient One can now add
another to his personal list for the first time, and that band is, Karmamoi.
The album for review is the second release from the band, following on from the
debut, the self-titled Karmamoi (2011)
and is called Odd Trip. While doing a
bit of research into the band, I also found out that Odd Trip is a year old and there is already a follow-up scheduled
for imminent release. Still, this review will fit under the old adage, “better
late, than never” and I will look forward to the shiny new release.
Formed back in 2008, Karmamoi released a single the
following year, toured Italy and started work on the debut album in 2010.
Although as a general rule, I dislike trying to fit bands musical styles into a
neatly labelled box, rather than under the umbrella of progressive rock,
Karmamoi do play melodic prog rock, albeit with a distinct leaning to the heavy
side.
The band, at the time of recording Odd Trip, was a 5 piece, comprising, Daniele Giovaanoni (drums),
Serena Ciacci (vocals), Alessandro Cefali
(bass), Fabio Tempesta (guitars) and Alex Massari (guitar). Since that
recording, Serena, the female vocalist, has been replaced by Joline Forshaw.
Odd
Trip
by Karmamoi is a 12 track album with a total playing time of around 51 minutes.
There are 3 tracks which are very short and I would term them interludes, or
linking tracks, and they are tracks 1, 5 and 9. They are titled “Oxygen” parts
1, 2 and 3, with running times of 1:44 minutes, 0:56 minutes and 0:58 minutes
respectively. Track 4, “If I Think Of The Sea” is the longest track on offer,
running on for over 6 minutes. (6:34)
The 3 “Oxygen” tracks are strange little linking pieces
of atmospherics with sound effects, the odd riff and electronic bleeps. The
“meat” of the album is contained within the other 9 tracks, with track 2, “If”
(4:14) the first full track on Odd Trip.
Starting with the sound of someone moving around, it evolves into some heavy
riffing guitars. This is certainly an interesting start and then everything
falls away to leave the fragile vocals provided by Serena. The background
slowly builds behind the voice and there is an ethereal melody about the track
this far. Around the 3 minute mark, back comes the sound of movement again and
then those thundering guitar riffs. The song then makes its exit to the
plaintive sound of a telephone.
Track 3, “Labyrinth” (5:42), has a slightly lower riffing
intro with some electronic sound in the background, before Serena enters much
earlier than in the previous track. Crystal clear vocals soar over the fairly
sparse background before Serena ups the power a notch or two. The track then
drops back down to let the music build as it did before, then the guitar, bass
and drums get a chance to shine with some subtle gentle guitar from Fabio
soaring over all. A gentler form of riffing builds the song towards a finale
then the music fades again to allow Serena to carry the song onwards, backed by
some very neat bass runs.
“If I Think Of The Sea” (6:34) is a much more atmospheric
song carried along by the subdued music and the stunning voice of Serena. Very
different from what has gone before, the guitar, which takes center stage
around the 3 minute mark, has a very subdued tone. Some ineffectual noises are
heard in the background prior to the vocal building heralding the ending of the
track. This is a very different approach by the band which pulls the listener
quickly into the track.
The strangely titled “Samvega” (5:24) again has that
subdued melodic starting point, which meanders along creating a very
atmospheric soundscape. Around the halfway point the band have moved the music
into the heavier side prior to everything becoming stripped back again. All in
all a much laid back instrumental track which leads neatly into “Yours.”
“Yours” (5:08) is another complete style change with
“yowling” guitars and powerful vocals leading into a driving animal of a track,
easily the most powerful track thus far. There is next to no easing back on
this track and then the voice fades leaving the rhythm engine to motor for a
while. Serena re-enters the fray and the track moves up another notch on its
race to the finish.
Track 8, the title track, “Odd Trip” (6:10) has a neat
drum/bass interaction as an opening, the vocals taking over before passing onto
a short guitar passage. An almost “funky” bass line merges into a full band
blowout and the song drives along before being escorted back into the opening
themes. More of that ultra-melodic guitar puts in an appearance before the build-up
to the finale.
Another strangely titled track, “5+” (4:06) follows the
last of the “Oxygen” linking tracks, and the spoken intro is soon into a heavy
riffing passage. There are some more subtle guitar riffs as the song progresses
before another atmospheric spoken piece. A repeat of the riffing then escorts
the track out.
“Lost Days” (4:26) moves away from the riffing guitars to
enter with a keyboard passage and “breathy” vocals and provides a very melodic
track, showing the other side of the band. Cue the final track, “Aria” (6:11)
and some powerful drumming, superb vocals herald a real rocker of a track.
There are little hints at power riffing, but these are kept well in check.
Certainly, Karmamoi, are not an Italian band of the
Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) family, but have a style all of their own.
Flowing from almost Pink Floyd based atmospherics to the more power prog of
Rush, Karmamoi have produced a midpoint mixture which makes for an extremely
interesting and listenable album.
Odd
Trip
probably requires several listens, but when it does get inside the listener (or
vice versa), it is a terrific slice of heavy prog.
4/5
Stars
Key
Tracks: If I Think Of The Sea, Samvega, Odd Trip
Tracks:
Oxygen 1
If
Labyrinth
If I Think Of The Sea
Oxygen 2
Samvega
Yours
Odd Trip
Oxygen 3
5+
Lost Days
Aria
Tracks:
Oxygen 1
If
Labyrinth
If I Think Of The Sea
Oxygen 2
Samvega
Yours
Odd Trip
Oxygen 3
5+
Lost Days
Aria
December 6, 2014
Review
Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk
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