| CD REVIEW Twinspirits |
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Band : Twinspirits In his review (posted 22/09/2009) of this Italian-Swedish collaboration band's previous album, colleague EM completely neglected to give the reader a band history...so here it is! Twinspirits was founded in 2004 as a new Progressive Rock outfit by keyboardist Daniele Liverani (perhaps best known from his Genius albums, this prolific musician/ songwriter also released albums under his own name and has/ had tenures with Empty Tremor, Khymera, Cosmics, and Exarule) whom, after having completed yet another Genius album, was looking forward to a real band situation again, one which would allow him to head out on the road. To complete the band, he invited his country fellows guitarist Tommy Ermolli (whom he'd first seen lay when Tommy was only 13, and then invited to join Khymera and Cosmics), drummer Dario Ciccioni (another old pal he played with in Khymera, and whom he invited into his Genius and solo album projects; Ciccioni als has/d tenures with Centrica, Hartmann, Empyrios, Concept Of Main Art, and Opera), and bassist Alberto Rigoni. For his singer he turned to Dane Sören Adamsen, first choice among a shit-load of vocalists from all over the world whom auditioned for the position. With the team complete, it took exactly 6 months to record the album The Music That Will Heal the World, released through Lion Music in June 2007. However, Adamsen turned out to be unable to free himself for the Italian tour the band planned to do in January 2008, and later he even had to leave the band for strictly personal reasons. A replacement was eventually found in Swedish Göran Nyström after another stressful set of auditions. This outfit recorded the conceptual Forbidden City (hey, conceptual albums happen to be Liverani's specialty, right!?), and went on a promotional tour through Italy's more important venues, playing a total of 10 gigs in December 2009 and April 2010 (supported by Italian Dream Theatre tribute band Ytsejam KR and changing local bands per venue). Due to the success of the shows, the band then promised to return for a third run during 2010's Autumn, but I've seen no confirmation of the events actually having taken place. At any rate, Liverani had already written a new set of songs to be recorded...and that with the same team of musicians as on the band's sophomore album. The new album, in essence, consists of two parts, the first being 6 individual songs, the second being a 5-part suite entitled The Endless Sleep (starting off with the short acoustic Neo-Classical instrumental by the same title – the 4 other parts all have their own subtitle, of course). Now...never having heard the previous album, I can only go with Liverani's own claim that the first 6 songs are somewhat more direct than we're used by the band. Of course, with a clean separation between the songs, the less experienced Progressive Rock/ Metal fan (or fan to be) still has somewhat of a breather (hum, although album opening track “Senseless”, with its more than 8-minute length, is immediately an short exercise in endurance)...but the same cannot be said about the nearly 30-minute suite. Still, once the listener settles for the ride, I'm sure (s)he will be able to enjoy the piece throughout without getting a headache. Of course, experienced Prog fanatics will have little trouble loving Twinspirits! Those having already come in contact with the band on their sophomore album will probably want to buy the album right away. Doubters will have only the one full-length song (the 6:20 “Endless Sleep” part “Legacy”,posted at (www.) myspace.com/twinspirits) or possible sample bits (usually available at the album's pages at online sales outlets such as Amazon, iTunes, Napster, and other trustworthy websites. 89/100 Tony. |