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Bass
player and songwriter Lorenzo Deho’ is mostly associated with the
innovative band Time Machine, a collective that drew my attention
with ‘Act II: Galileio’ in 1995. At the end of last year they also
released the highly recommended ‘Reviviscence’, a refreshing album
that every prog rock fan should have.
Lorenzo founded Khali in 2000 with some of his former band members
to ventilate ideas he couldn’t use in his main band. Just like
‘Evil’ of Time Machine this album is re-released with a bonus track.
Khali I has as subtitle ‘a trip through Cyberspace’ and then we are
talking about the lyrical concept: internet and the metaphysical
meaning to people. The production was in the hands of Lorenzo too,
making sure all this would not sound too clean.
In opposition to the virtual subject, the music on this album is
warm-hearted, touching and spontaneous. No cool freaking, but songs
with a heart and soul. Guitar driven stories of life. The album
opens with two long tracks, borne by solid riffs and melodic guitar
parts. Folco Orlandini is a brilliant singer who touches the right
string with his emotional, slightly sad voice. We still know him
from the album ‘Act II: Galileio’. ‘Cyberpleasure’ takes a twist to
slower paces and brings a simple but familiar story about surfing on
the internet. The following ‘Wind Of Ages’ is the opus magnum of
this album and has a conjuring brief continuation in part II. Also
‘Spiritual Distortions’ and ‘Heaven Again’ are instant favourites
because of their catchy moods, even though it is all progressive
metal in a convincing way. Let’s hope there will be a sequel on this
excellent debut some day. |
