It was about time that I listened to a great record by an Italian band...
I found out
I Treni All'Alba (The Trains At The Dawn, in english) thanks to a contact at RockShots Agency, which provides the promotion for this band coming from Turin and Aosta.
"
2011 A.D." is the second album by this group: I didn't know what I was going to hear, but the first notes of the intro immediately claimed my attention, releasing it only at the very end of the record.
The music of I Treni All'Alba is totally instrumental, and is based primarily on acoustic instruments (guitars, piano, drums) with the addition of pedal effects that enrich the sound, increasing its depth and livening the atmosphere up.
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The 4 musicians involved in this project mix folk music (there are references to the "Mediterranean" sound for sure... they're italian after all!), 70s progressive rock, a touch of jazz and a modern, post-core attitude. Not to mention the welcome references to movies soundtracks that emerge here and there, providing an interpretative reference point.
The result of this blend is a very dynamic album, where the technical skills are at the service of extremely captivating and often exciting compositions. The songs never sound trite, predictable but, at the same time, show no trace of self-indulgence: a rarity in the current prog scene.
But enough of the chatter: stream all the tracks on the disc at this link and judge by yourself. For me, "2011 A.D." is one of the best instrumental albums of the last ten years. Well done, ragazzi!
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