Band : Sensazione

Album title : Anche I Pesci Hanno Sete

Label : Zeta Promotion

Distributor : Venus (Italy); (Alkemist Fanatix Promotion)

Release date : ?/11/2006

Release : CD (+ DVD)

This Italian band was originally started in 1998 by singer/ guitarist Gabriele Rusticelli , but in 2002 he moved to Bologna, where the project really took form. In Spring 2003, the band (who'd been experimenting with several Rock genres in the rehearsal room, leading to Gabriele also starting to use a sampler to introduce little noises to the music) start composing what would become their debut album Frammenti...Tra Rumori E Parole , entering   studio in November of the same year. The album gets released towards the end of 2004 (Oct. 20 th ) on the newly formed Zeta Promotion label. Directly following the release, the line-up goes through some changes due to artistic differences. Enter bassist Enrico Scalzi , and after several live performances the band becomes a quartet with the addition of (female) guitarist Alessia Ippoliti . A video is made for their "Altra Via" single, and it gets aired in Italy through Rock TV and Match Music , amongst others.

Having participated to the important Italian Neapolis festival in 2005, the band secludes itself for a whole month in a remote recording studio to compose and pre-produce their sophomore album. They're joined by new drummer Filippo Brandimarte , whose play initiates a solidification of the band sound. The fine-tuning of the new songs ends in December of the same year, and the band immediately sets out to test these new babies in a live environment. The audience's response is simply enthousiastic, and the band returns to the recording studio with envigorated spirits. During March, and actually in the middle of recording the album, the band records a live performance, and thus arises the idea to include a DVD in the release of Anchi I Pesci Hanno Sete (a title which translates as "Fish are thursty too").

Regretfully, that DVD was not included in our promo package, but the music on the audio CD is interesting enough. The main influence seems to be the better Grunge Rock sounds of the '90s, but Gabriele 's little "noise" additions certainly throw the music into the new millenium. As you'll listen to the tunes, you'll agree that the song structures certainly have been thought through during composition, leading to very catchy songs which will possibly be categorised as "Alternative Rock" by most. Although the overall atmosphere on the album is far from aggressive, you'll agree that "Antidoto" is a semi-ballad, enticing enough for you to keep your ears sharp in order for you to catch all the little things that are goin' on. Backing vocals on the album were done by one Michele Turchi , and not having received the DVD I can't tell you whom takes over the role of backing vocalist on stage (or if indeed the band even bothers). The most in-your-face feature of SensAzionE 's music however, is the fact that they only sing in their native language, which definitely sets them apart in the genre. Certainly not an evident choice, and it makes decent success outside their country's borders uncertain. But then again, there's people like me, who can appreciate   touch of the Mediterranean every now and again...and not forgetting all the sons of Italy who've emigrated to various parts of the world at some time or another! The CD contains a video for the song "Vertigini E Suoni" , which I regrettably could not open "thanks" to my anscient computer. The DVD is said (even if I didn't get it for review, I can still promote it somewhat) to include some 75 minutes of live playing time, and then there's some 20 minutes extras (if I'm not mistaken there's some backstage footage and a video clip).

Overall, although the album may grab you at the throat from the very first listening session, the music has the nice caracteristic that it warrants to be heard several times for all its litlle details to be revealed. In my book, that's a big plus, and extra points in the rating! Meanwhile, news has arrived that bassist Enrico Scalzi has left the band on amicable terms due to not being able to go on the road with the band. His temporary replacement Mario Benelli is an old friend of Gabriele 's, whom he recently encountered again after a long time. Also, thanks to their promotion agency, the band finally gigged at their nation's capital.

Gotten interested? Then certainly check out the band's website sensazione.it to find a couple of examples of the band's songwriting and playing capacities.

90/100

Tony.