DAAL is an Italian duo made up of expert musicians Alfio Costa and Davide Guidoni, active with this Instrumental Prog project since 2008. The new album “Daedalus” was released on May 13, 2022 via Ma.Ra.Cash Records and contains 6 long tracks. duration at which Ettore Salati on guitar and Bobo Aiofi on bass are played. The opening track “Journey Trought The Spiral Mind part.1” is the longest in duration, exceeding 14 minutes and is the first part of this suite ending with the final track. A long intro with effects and noises begins the piece, which develops with an intertwining of piano and guitar to which deep bass lines and percussion drumming are added. For most of the time the track moves in a more experimental territory, with extensive use of effects and noises and avant-garde sounds. In the end it takes on more progressive traits, always with an intricate touch, and then closes. With a solid rhythmic session and a granite intertwining between heavy guitar riffs and keyboards opens “Icarus Dream,” also extracted as a single to anticipate the album. A good mix between keyboards and guitar, a tight rhythm and tempo changes with valuable inserts at times Experimental in other more Symphonic ones. An excellent piece of Instrumental Prog, full of ideas and with a solid and elaborate sound. “Painting Wings” opens with dreamy keyboard melodies, which characterize the long introductory part, which lasts over 3 minutes. With a change they develop a Prog theme with a sumptuous Hammond a Symphonic imprint that reminds us of the sounds of the past. Granitic and engaging, it is enriched by tempo changes and valuable keyboard works, to conclude in the second part with a more Experimental section. A first Experimental part characterizes the long suite “Labyrinth 66,” and then in the second part develops a very elaborate Prog with Jazzy traits. Enriched by the textures of the guitar, which offers an interesting solo inspiration, duet with the keyboards for the whole second part. A track with two faces, the first with decidedly more Experimental effects and noises, the second with a Jazzy Prog Rock, solid and full of quality ideas. The shorter track on the album “In My Time Of Shadow” begins with a piano melody, which evolves into a vintage Sinfonic Prog sound. Rich textures of keyboard and guitar, a softer rhyming session, long instrumental plots as in the best tradition of the genre, enhancing the compositional and executive technique of the band. The album ends with the second part of the suite “Journey Trought The Spiral Mind part.2” which unlike the first one has a pompous Prog sound. With continuous tempo changes and a fine blend of guitar and keyboards, he brings the sounds of the past into a modern and personal context. A pleasant listening from start to finish, with the band skilled in mixing Classic Prog passages with other more Experimental ones. The long instrumental plots allow to enhance the personal technique of the artists both in the compositional and executive phases. A listening recommended to all lovers of instrumental prog, with references to the ’70s, brought to the present day with their own personal touch.
Tracklist
01. Journey Trought The Spiral Mind part.1 (14:10)
02. Icarus Dream (07:30)
03. Painting Wings (09:22)
04. Labyrinth 66 (13:07)
05. In My Time Of Shadow (06:30)
06. Journey Trought The Spiral Mind part.2 (07:50)
Lineup
Alfio Costa (Prowlers, Tilion, Fufluns) / Keyboards, Noises
Davide Guidoni (Taproban) / Acoustic & Electronic Drums & Percussion, Keyboards, Noises
With:
Ettore Salati (The Watch, Alex Carpani, SoulenginE) / Electric Guitars
Bobo Aiolfi / Fretless Basses