Beekstraat 1 - B-2640 Mortsel - Belgium

VARIOUS ARTISTS: The 7 Samurai

Release

Style

After the artistic successes “The Colossus of Rhodes” and “Odyssey”, the collaboration between Finnish magazine Colossus and French label Musea had to be continued. Film proved to be the ideal source of inspiration. Already two albums have been released, based upon Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns. And now there is “The 7 Samurai” after the eponymous classic by Japan’s film giant Akira Kurosawa. An impressive case of epic cinema which provided the ideas for George Lucas’s “Star Wars”. Remind you that every album in this series aims to revive the typical style of seventies progrock. The digital technology clears the room for the warm, organic sounds of Hammond, Moog and Mellotron. The contribution of Italy’s Consorzio Acqua Potabile (CAP) is a feast of recognition: the varying approach of analogue keyboards, flute, violin and powerful acoustic and electric guitar makes for a captivating twenty minute piece. The Italian vocals enhance the dramatic character of this lavish yet very accessible composition. Venezuela’s Tempano, who already convinced us on “Odyssey”, also provides melodic sympho with fluent transitions, but in a very different vein. It’s best described as a virtuosic genre exercise. Especially the keys create some compelling moments. “The Farmers” proves that Tempano could easily level with the best of The Flower Kings or Neal Morse/Spock’s Beard. Finally, unique Italian combo Tapobran takes the typical elements of the traditional Italian school and ELP repertoire, and builds towards a new sound by fusing them with unconventional instruments like clarinet and mandolin. “The Bandits” makes for a more than pleasant surprise.   
 

Musicians

1. CAP (Italy)
2. Tempano (Venezuola)
3. Tapobran (Italy)

1. Alla Corte Degli Eroi - 1550 (27'03)
Periodo Sengoku
I. Shimada Kambei
II. Kikuchiyo: Il Volo
III. Crepusculo - Parte Uno
IV. Il Vecchio Mulino
V. Katayama Gorobei: Le Sete Spade
VI. Fa Che Io Sia: Il Dono
2. The Farmers (26'19)
I. Farewell To The Season
II. The Lone Samurai
III. Despair, Shout !
IV. The Blind Crow
3. The Bandits (22'33)
I. First Ride
II. Eagle's Peak Pyre
III. The Flaming Lady
IV. Last Ride

Beyond The Mirror (EP, 2000)
Field Of Names (2001)
A Different Point Of You (2003)
In Focus (2007)

Website in order to promote progressive rock to a broader audience in Flanders but also in the entire world. No part from this website may be used in any other publication whether in print or on the world wide web without the editor's consent - all material is exclusive to Prog-Nose and copyright protected.

Last updated: 22 april 2007 .
All rights reserved. Copyright © Prog-Nose 30:05:2001.