In 2024 I reviewed the latest album by Runaway Totem. It is titled C R E A T O R S (see review) and is an album for lovers of acts such as Magma and Hawkwind. But most of all for those who enjoy musical styles such as Progressive Rock, Zeuhl and Space Rock. One year later they released Metaphorm Tetraphirm. A live audiovisual album released November 2025. Next to the Italian progressive rock/Zeuhl band Runaway Totem it is featuring the group AndromacA. Roberto Gottardi (guitars, synth guitar, keyboards, programming, percussion, Theremin, vocals), the last and most indomitable representative of Runaway Totem, joins forces with Andromaca, a trio consisting of Soprano Antonella Suella, keyboard player Stefano Bertoli, and dancer Clara Luna. Together they did a live performance on December 16, 2023, in the former Abbey of San Bernardino in Genova, actually before the release of the latest studio album mentioned earlier. However, the audio and video mixing of the entire concert likely caused the recording of this performance to be released only two years later on a double CD and DVD released via Black Widow Records. This unusual title, Metamorph Tetraphirm, comes from a Latin phrase meaning "The Metaphor of the Four Signatures." The four signatures in question refer to the DNA helices. These four helices, or eight strands of DNA, were symbolically released during the live performance to open "stargates" leading to universes with densities different from our own. It is, therefore, a journey through time and space. Worth mentioning is that this cosmic project was dedicated to the memory of Nik Turner. The former sax and flute player for Hawkwind who died in 2022. What can you expect musically from this audio and video release? The live album is conceptually divided into two distinct phases. The first CD features a continuous 45-minute set and is named Phase I: Searching For A New Dimension. It is a tribute to 1970s Krautrock and progressive rock legends, featuring covers and re-imaginings of works by Popol Vuh (In Den Garten Pharaos), Can (Future Days, Father Cannot Yell), Pink Floyd (On The Run) Tangerine Dream (Stratosfear) and Amon Düül (Deutsch Nepal). In this order performed. Their versions are rather entertaining if you like this kind of music, which sounds sometimes a bit chaotic and you do have to love the soprano wordless vocals. However, most of all On The Run and Stratosfear are worth listening because they come more closer to elements of progressive rock. The second CD is a continuous 70-minute set and is named Phase II: On The Edge Of Space And Time and has original compositions inspired by Krautrock and cosmic themes. A handful of previously unreleased tracks as well as revisited versions of Mekanik ritual and TAT L'Albero Cosmico, taken respectively from Trimegisto and Affreschi E Meditazione, albums by previous incarnations of Runaway Totem. Highlights are without Ritual Thanz with its pan flute and table sounds and Heliocentric Energy with its nice sequencer parts and on which Antonella Suella tries to copy the synthesizer parts of Roberto "Cahål De Bêtêl" Gottardi with her voice. A bit like what Ian Gilian and Ritchie Blackmore did live on stage with Deep Purple. Only the electric guitar is here replaced by the synthesizer. As for the DVD version of this concert the music is just the same. The sound is okay and a bit like on both CDs. As for the visuals you don't see a real close up of the musicians. To make it more interesting the dance performance of Clara Luna certainly add something extra to this live concert. Luna's task is to connect attendees to the explored dimensions referred to in the title of the live performance mentioned earlier. Metaphorm Tetraphirm, is an essential document for lovers of cosmic music. Music without boundaries in a timelessly fascinating setting, where Roberto Gottardi's cosmic forays are supported by Stefano Bertoli's synths and arcane percussion, while Antonella Suello's vocal chords explore infinite spaces. The project captures a unique live performance recorded in Genoa. This fusion of Runaway Totem feat. Andromaca gives rise to a double album imbued with cosmic and expansive sounds, where experimentation, electronics, and space blend seamlessly. It might be considered a as a one-of-a-kind tribute that certainly might appeal strongly to fans of 70s Krautrock, Progressive Rock, Zeuhl and Electronic Music. But you do have to be open to experimental music that can sometimes come across as chaotic. But that certainly shouldn't stop anyone from being part of Metaphorm Tetraphirm. *** Henri Strik (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
