The Italian formation Submarine Silence was founded almost 30 years ago, in 1996, by keyboard player Christiano Roversi (also Moongarden). In 2006 Submarine Silence released their early Genesis inspired eponymous debut album, and this year their 5th effort named Atonement Of A Former Sailor Turned Painter, 5 years after their previous album Did Swans See Ever God?. Website info. "This is a concept album where the most classic sounds of the 1970s merges in a perfect balance with those of the new and best symphonic progressive rock of these last decades. Peculiar to new the album are the lyrics, besides mainly English, also other languages such as French, Portuguese, Creole and Dutch, aimed at emphasizing some passages of the twisted and winding story of a wandering sailor who finds atonement for his tumultuous past life in the art of painting. A story is fully mirrored in the evocative image artwork by artist Ed Unitsky. With this new record, Submarine Silence has officially now formed a final 6-member lineup, with a brand new rhythm section with Marco Croci (ex-Maxophone) and Maurizio Di Tollo (Ex-La Maschera Di Cera), the definitive confirmation of the two vocalists, Guillermo Gonzales and Manuela Milanese, who consolidate the ensemble led by Cristiano Roversi and David Cremoni." Majestic Whales: This track featuring a slow rhythm, spacey synthesizer flight and powerful drum beats is built around a wonderful, very moving guitar solo by Roine Stolt (know from The Flower Kings), in the intense tradition of Steve Hackett and Andy Latimer, halfway joined by awesome Mellotron choirs, wow, I am carried away to Prog Heaven! Les Mots Que Tu Ne Dis Pas: First a bombastic mid-tempo, a swirling Hammond organ sound, guitar riffs and inspired English vocals (the sound reminds me of 80s Kansas), culminating in a fiery guitar solo, backed by a powerful rhythm-section. Then a dreamy atmosphere with beautiful female vocals, in the end a compelling grand finale, in a slow rhythm with sensitive electric guitar and majestic Mellotrons. Limbo Of The Rootless: This varied and dynamic composition alternates between dreamy with acoustic guitar, soaring Hammond, a mid-tempo with a moving guitar solo and sumptuous outbursts with Mellotron choirs. This is topped by pleasant male - and female vocals. And now the epic title track Atonement Of A Former Sailor Turned Painter, it contains 8 parts and clocks 21:05. The wonderful, very melodic and harmonic music sounds like an archetypical symphonic rock composition featuring lots of shifting moods and breaks, topped with good duo vocals and embellished with pleasant vintage keyboard extravaganza. From dreamy with twanging acoustic guitars and Mellotron (flute/violins/brass sections) to a mid-tempo beat with rock guitar and sumptuous Hammond. From bombastic and ominous with thunderous drums and mighty Hammond to dreamy with Mellotron violins and spacey Minimoog synthesizer. And from mellow with acoustic guitar and duo vocals to a compelling grand finale with moving electric guitar. The band in its full splendor! And finally a CD bonustrack entitled Zena: First tender classic guitar and Mellotron flute, blended with Rick Wakeman-like Minimoog flights, then a slow rhythm with moving guitar solo and Mellotron choirs (wow), and in the end again tender classical guitar. Short but beautiful. I am delighted about this new Submarine Silence album, highly recommended! **** Erik Neuteboom (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
