CRIS ROVERSI REVIEW

http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/index_cdreviews_display.cfm?id=103879 AntiQua Review by G. W. Hill The mix of sounds on this album is fairly diverse. Symphonic progressive rock, Kraftwerk like electronic music and even folk elements all seem to be heard at different points.  There are sections that are quite decidedly Italian in flavor, too. While there is a lot of variety here, it works together nicely as a cohesive set, though.

Track by Track Review

Morning in AntiQua Acoustic guitar opens this and pretty musical motifs build atop that backdrop as it continues. This is intricate and quite complex, while still feeling very dreamy and inviting. It’s past the two and a half minute mark before any kind of real rhythmic elements join, feeling a bit like a programmed electronic percussion track. Some melodic electric guitar soars overhead as this continues. There’s an atmospheric section as it approaches the five minute mark that seems like it might have some bits of backwards tracked music. That section takes the piece out.

Tales from Solitude Suite This is four part suite put together as one epic track (over twenty three and a half minutes in length). Starting symphonic, this is at first quite a pretty bit of atmospheric texture. There is a dark and foreboding element to it, though. After a time it shifts to piano and the first vocals of the album come over the top of that. It’s very much balladic, with a theatric element at play. It grows as it continues, though. After a time it shifts towards acoustic guitar based progressive rock. I’m reminded a bit of Genesis in that section. As more electric instrumentation is added beyond that point, the Genesis link seems even more obvious to me. Then after time it shifts towards more of that drum machine type rhythm work. Synthesizer solos over the top of that. Still, beyond that point there’s another section that makes me think of a more organic version of Kraftwerk. In fact, some of the sounds even remind me of a specific Kraftwerk piece. Eventually, though, all that fades away as acoustic guitar once more starts to lead the way. There is a very accessible melody that somehow makes me think a bit of The Beatles, but with more prog added to the mix that takes control.

L'Amore The percussive elements that open this make me think of the Duke album from Genesis. However, the song is an acoustic guitar based jam that’s sung in Italian. It’s like folk based progressive rock. As the keyboards dance around the arrangement later, I’m again reminded of Genesis quite a bit.

Nessie Revealed Atmospheric progressive rock elements start things here and carry it forward. It builds in rather symphonic ways. This instrumental is pretty, but never really develops far.

Falling A two part suite, this starts with an electronic, ambient kind of piece. The female vocals early make think of Laurie Anderson at times. It gets more lush as it continues. After this opening section winds through, acoustic guitar rises up and then the arrangement fills out organically from there. As this extended instrumental section continues it moves between folk meets world sounds and more powered up progressive rock.

Dimlit Tavern There is sort of an old world, folk music element here. This builds up organically and feels a little sad at times. Still, there is an energy and an excitement at other points.

Nirayed's Secret Diary Although at first this seems somewhat similar to the previous cut, it works out to some lush and powerful keyboard dominated music. It’s quite symphonic and quite pretty.

AntiQua Another melodic progressive rock number, this one is more extensive than some of the others and has more shifts and changes.

Antiqu's Evening The disc is closed by a piano solo.

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AntiQua
CD - £9.99