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Ellesmere II - From Sea and Beyond

by Ellesmere

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1.
Tidal Breath 02:12
2.
3.
Runaway 06:01
4.
Marine Coda 02:09
5.
The Schooner 11:01
6.
7.

about

Tornano, a tre anni dal debutto "Les Châteaux de la Loire", gli Ellesmere, guidati dal polistrumentista italiano Roberto Vitelli, autore di musica e testi di ogni canzone, nonché bassista e tastierista in quasi tutte le sette tracce di questo concept album. Ogni canzone tratta un diverso aspetto del complesso rapporto tra uomo e mare, dalla curiosità e la paura dell'uomo verso ciò che è nascosto nel profondo del mare; la vocazione all'avventura e al viaggio fino alla fine del mondo conosciuto... e oltre. Il mare, l'ignoto, l'infinito splendore e l'anima umana sono i temi su cui poggia il concept del disco.

Nel complesso, "Ellesmere II" suona molto più energico e vario rispetto al lavoro precedente. Qui non è difficile trovare somiglianze con i grandi nomi prog del passato: Yes, innanzitutto, ma anche King Crimson nelle parti più energiche (una citazione da "Red" è nascosta nella seconda traccia), il jazz-rock inglese, l'attitudine sinfonica degli Emerson, Lake & Palmer, il gusto per la melodia tipico dei Kansas, i cambi di tonalità mozzafiato di Magellan e Cairo, il mood intimo e cupo dei primi dischi solisti di Peter Gabriel. La breve sezione strumentale che apre l'album è il trait d'union evocativo tra l'ultimo brano del precedente lavoro, indistinto e intriso di suoni della natura, e questo nuovo viaggio nelle acque. L'imprevedibilità del mare selvaggio è ben illustrata nell'alternarsi di tracce complesse e d'impatto ("Marine Extravaganza", "The Schooner" e "Time, Life Again") ad altre più brevi e tranquille ("Runaway", "Ridge Fanfare").

Per l'occasione, Vitelli ha chiesto ad alcuni musicisti eccezionali di unirsi a lui nel suo viaggio: Robert Berry (3, Keith Emerson) alla voce; Trey Gunn (King Crimson, David Sylvian, UKZ, Security Project) alla Warr Guitar; David Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator, Osanna) sui sassofoni; Alan Benjamin (Advent, Mirthrandir), Brett Kull (Echolyn), Davy O'List (The Nice, Roxy Music) e Keith More (Arena, John Wetton) sulle chitarre; Marco Bernard (The Samurai of Prog) al basso; Daniele Pomo (RanestRane) alla batteria.

Lo stesso artowrk del disco è un'opera d'arte a sé, creata appositamente dal pittore inglese e designer Colin Elgie (collaboratore degli storici Hipgnosis Studios), autore fra tutti delle immagini di copertina di "A Trick of the Tail" e "Wind and wuthering" dei Genesis negli anni '70.

* * *

Three years after the debut "Les Châteaux de la Loire" Ellesmere are back, still led by the Italian multi instrumentalist Roberto Vitelli, who wrote the music and the lyrics of every song and took care of most of the bass and keyboards parts on the seven tracks that are part of the concept. Every song deals with a different aspect of the complex relationship between man and sea, from man's curiosity and fear towards what is hidden deep inside the sea to the call for adventure and for traveling to the end of the known world... and beyond. The sea, the unknown, the infinity grandeur and the human soul are the key themes that tie together the concept that feeds the album.

"Ellesmere II" sounds way more energetic and varied compared to the previous work. It's not difficult to find similarities with the great prog acts of the past: Yes immediately does spring to mind, but also King Crimson during the rawest parts (a quote from RED is hidden in the second track), UK challenging jazz prog, the symphonic attitude of ELP, Kansas tension towards melody, the breathtaking chord changing sequences typical of Magellan and Cairo, the intimate and gloomy mood from early Peter Gabriel productions. The brief opening instrumental section links to the last track of the previous work, still hazy and filled with the sounds of nature, and this new journey into the waters. The unpredictability of the savage sea is depicted by the alternation of complex and impact tracks ("Marine Extravaganza", "The Schooner" and "Time, Life Again") to other shorter and quieter ones ("Runaway", "Ridge Fanfare").

Vitelli also asked some outstanding musicians to join him on his journey: Robert Berry (3, Keith Emerson) on vocals; Trey Gunn (King Crimson, David Sylvian, UKZ, Security Project) at the Warr Guitar; David Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator, Osanna) on saxophones; Alan Benjamin (Advent, Mirthrandir), Brett Kull (Echolyn), Davy O'List (The Nice, Roxy Music) and Keith More (Arena, John Wetton) on guitars; Marco Bernard (The Samurai of Prog) on bass; Daniele Pomo (RanestRane) on drums.

The album artwork is also a piece of art, as it was specifically created by the English painter and designer Colin Elgie (also part of the famous Hipgnosis Studio), the same who drew Genesis' "A trick of the tail" and "Wind and wuthering" sleeves back in the 70s.

credits

released November 30, 2018

Music and lyrics by Roberto Vitelli
Arrangements by Roberto Vitelli and Paolo Carnelli
Produced by Roberto Vitelli and Paolo Carnelli
Mixed by Riccardo Romano at The Shell
Mastered at Reference Mastering by Fabrizio De Carolis

Roberto Vitelli: Rickenbacker 4003 Jetglo Bass, Fender “Geddy Lee” Jazz Bass, Taurus Moog I, Gibson Gold Top Guitar, Mellotron M400, Minimoog Model D, Prophet 5, Moog Voyager, Yamaha DX7 II, Kurzweil K2500, Roland JV 1080, Yamaha TX 81Z
Paolo Carnelli: Piano, Electric Piano, Hammond Organ & Additional Keyboards
Alan Benjamin: Guitars (2)
Robert Berry: Vocals (3/7)
Marco Bernard: Bass (6)
Trey Gunn: Warr Guitar (3)
David Jackson: Saxes & Keyboards (4)
Brett William Kull: Guitars (7)
Danilo Mintrone: Korg Microkorg (1)
Keith More: Guitars (5)
Davy O'List: Guitars (6)
Daniele Pomo: Drums and Percussion (2,3,5,6,7)


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Copie fisiche dell'album in formato LP sono disponibili a questo link / Physical copies in LP format are available at this link:

LP: btf.it/prodotto/ellesmere-ii-from-sea-and-beyond-lp/

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