It will be a brief review, as the record is short as well. Generally, we could call it a “minialbum” owing to the fact that it comprises less than 25 minutes of music. They are composed of 7 topics, one of which - “Oscillations du Chaos-part 2” is only 40 seconds long. This short space of time is filled with the array of curious sounds. Actually, they are not the only ones to call curious, as on the latest album of N.y.X - the Italian prog band, we can indulge ourselves with much more such not-easy-to-digest tunes.
They are put into the frames of relatively short tracks. In fact, no more than two songs: “Delightful Illusions” and “Dry Blood” might be acknowledged as the competent, prog-rock recordings. “Discipline” (King Crimson) is the main influence on them both. In these two songs, there is an atmosphere similar to the one in: “Elephant Talk” or “The La Hun Ginjeet”. Their music abounds in improvised parts. Dynamic moments intersperse with quiet sounds, and the spirit of psychodely seems to pervade all over. At times, the singing of Walter F. is something that definitely resembles the voice of Andrew Belew.
Walter not only sings, he also plays the guitars and a bass guitar. Danillo A. Pannico, who jointly with Walter forms a duet “N.y.X”, is responsible for the percussion instruments and the synthesizer. Their group isn’t much alike a regular prog-band, but it looks like a studio project instead. Their artistic work leaves a great scope for stylistic freedom, improvisation, not to mention Devil Doll and Shylock-style experiments. May be the artists play difficult music, but they do it with taste and a tremendous dose of genuine professionalism. This music has a character. It is blessed with charm. The more you listen to it, the more it intrigues you.
I happen to think that it’s all quite strange. I mean if this music was attributed to Robert Fripp and his famous band, the reviewers and the public would invariably sing the prises of it. If, on the other hand “The Power To Believe” was played by the band of N.y.X.’s ilk, then probably not a soul would take a keen interest in it. That is why I persuade the lazy doubters, since the experts on on the topic, I believe, are not long to encourage, to quickly get acquainted with the album described by the Italians as “Vol. I”. The odds are that the work on “Vol II” should be in the process, and... John Wetton himself will be involved in this project. It seems to me that the new album won’t pass unnoticed. It would be undesirable if this record I review, was “discovered” only after the apperance of it’s successor.
Translated by Agnieszka Muszyńska
