Gideon
This album is progtastic!!
If you like ELP, Big Big Train or Genesis then this is a must download. What a great find on Bandcamp!
Favorite track: Endless.
Sven B. Schreiber (sbs)
Looking at the cover artwork of this album, you already know pretty much what kind of music to expect from it. No, it's not a Roger Dean painting, but this work by Rodney Matthews is of a similar kind. The music is heavily inspired by "Yes" ("Relayer" era), but noticeable traits of "ELP" (e.g. "Tarkus") and 70's "Van der Graaf Generator" are there too, the latter emphasized quite a bit by David Jackson's woodwind parts. So it's basically a parade of well-known sounds, but a very pleasant one.
Favorite track: Endless.
Jacampanman
Excellent symphonic prog rock album from Ellesmere, with an absolutely stellar supporting cast, including: Mattias Olsson (Änglagård, White Willow), Tomas Bodin (The Flower Kings), David Cross (King Crimson), David Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator) and Tony Pagliuca (Le Orme).
I love that cover, too!
Favorite track: Endeavour.
SweetMusic
Excellent modern take on symphonic prog. Bit Emersonian, bit VDGG ish, bit Camelish, bit Yesish , bit jagged and angular yet non of it cliched or a pastiche of what has gone before. Yes the influences are there woven into great tunes with excellent melodic motifs which engage and enthrall. Wonderful album.
Ellesmere, creatura symphonic-prog fondata e guidata dal polistrumentista italiano Roberto Vitelli, autore di tutte le musiche e dei testi, torna a sorpresa sulle scene a un solo anno di distanza dal secondo album "Ellesmere II / From sea and beyond" con un lavoro che impressiona quanto a freschezza, energia, impatto e cura minuziosa dei suoni e degli arrangiamenti.
"Wyrd" si lascia ammirare innanzitutto a partire dall'artwork di copertina, ad opera di Rodney Matthews, iconico illustratore di caratura pari a quella del leggendario Roger Dean. Musicalmente si prosegue sui medesimi territori del disco precedente, perciò i nomi di riferimento restano i classici Yes, King Crimson, Kansas, con l'aggiunta di una buona dose di jazz-rock, presente in ogni canzone; ma non mancano riferimenti al progressive rock contemporaneo e ad artisti quali Transatlantic, Flower Kings e Spock's Beard. "Wyrd" è quindi Un terzo capitolo epico e trascinante ancor più del precedente, quasi completamente strumentale e coinvolgente dal primo all'ultimo minuto.
Come da tradizione, inoltre, anche "Wyrd" vanta un lungo elenco di ospiti illustri: Mattias Olsson (Änglagård, White Willow / batteria), Tomas Bodin (The Flower Kings / tastiere), David Cross (King Crimson / violino), John Hackett (fratello del celebre Steve Hackett e costante presenza nei suoi dischi solisti / flauto), David Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator, Osanna / sassofono), Tony Pagliuca (Le Orme / tastiere), Luciano Regoli (Raccomandata Ricevuta Ritorno / voce), Fabio Liberatori (Loy & Altomare, Lucio Dalla, Ron / tastiere). Fabio Bonuglia (tastiere) e Giorgio Pizzala (voce).
In un percorso di evoluzione musicale e stilistica che ha avuto come punto di partenza il prog acustico e pastorale di "Les Châteaux De La Loire" (2015), ci auguriamo che "Wyrd" non sia punto di arrivo, ma di passaggio verso nuovi inesplorati lidi!
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Ellesmere, a symphonic-prog music project founded and led by Italian multi-instrumentalist Roberto Vitelli, author of all the music and lyrics, surprisingly comes back just one year after their second album "Ellesmere II / From sea and beyond" with an amazing work in terms of freshness, energy, impact and meticulous attention towards its sound and arrangements.
First of all, "Wyrd" deserves admiration starting from the cover artwork made by Rodney Matthews, an iconic illustrator at least equal to the legendary Roger Dean. Musically, it evolves on the same path of "Ellesmere II", so the main references are classic prog outfits Yes, King Crimson, Kansas, plus a good amount of jazz-rock, present in every song; but there are also references to contemporary progressive rock and to artists such as Transatlantic, Flower Kings and Spock's Beard. "Wyrd" is therefore a third epic and even more enthralling chapter than the previous one, almost completely instrumental and captivating from the first minute to the very last one.
As per tradition, "Wyrd" also involves a series of prog-related prestigious guests: Mattias Olsson (Änglagård, White Willow / drums), Tomas Bodin (The Flower Kings / keyboards), David Cross (King Crimson / violin), John Hackett (brother of the famous Steve Hackett and a constant presence in his solo records / flute), David Jackson (Van Der Graaf Generator, Osanna / saxophone), Tony Pagliuca (Le Orme / keyboards), Luciano Regoli (Raccomandata Ricevuta Ritorno / voice), Fabio Liberatori (Loy & Altomare, Lucio Dalla, Ron / keyboards), Fabio Bonuglia (tastiere) and Giorgio Pizzala (vocals).
In a path of musical and stylistic evolution that started from the acoustic and pastoral prog of "Les Châteaux De La Loire" (2015), we hope that "Wyrd" does not represent point of arrival, but another passage towards new unexplored lands!
credits
released December 4, 2020
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Copie fisiche dell'album in formato CD papersleeve e LP sono disponibili a questi link / Physical copies in papersleeve CD and LP format are available at these link:
A wonderful homage to the classic prog giants (Yes, King Crimson, ELP, Gentle Giant, etc.) while having more than enough gumption to stand on its own. A truly remarkable performance. 8/10 RJ
Mysterious, yet nostalgic, Isolubilia is truly an ode to the romance found in the pursuit of a mystery. Musically rich in turbulence and serenity, majesty and humbleness, this album made me feel both lonely, yet understood as an isolated individual. Perhaps we're all fellow romantics, looking up at the same night sky, trying to wring our own meaning out of the stars. I hope that pursuit never ends. The John
A spirited, modern imagining of classic ’70s prog; Pink Floyd vocalist Durga McBroom and Finnish prog icon Jukka Gustavson guest. Bandcamp New & Notable May 10, 2023
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This is a fantastic, cinematic listen of precise movements and virtuosic rhythmic switch ups. Zero dull moments, a rollercoaster ride of prog rock. Egg Wizard