Playades is an Italian project that proposes music from the past in a modern key. The new work is an experimental improvisation session on three themes conceived, played and recorded live on the magical day of 21 January 2023 in Modena at the Ground Floor Recording Studio. Nine people, friends of the Playades, made themselves available to participate in a new journey. Titled “Nova Delfi,” it was released on 24 December 2024 via Lizard Records and contains four tracks including the epic title track. The opener “Teogonie” is a track that immediately immerses us in the album’s atmosphere, with a percussive rhythm section and hypnotic melodies over which very warm and expressive spoken vocals alternate. In a musical crescendo, the band develops these fine interweaving arpeggios, leading us to the following, “Al Tempio.” A track characterised by a meditative sound, with a slow-moving rhythmic beat over which oriental melodies are layered and evolve. An enveloping, mystical track, as the title suggests, giving us the feeling of being inside a temple with its calm, meditative atmosphere. After the enveloping atmospheres of the previous track, “Danza Dell’Oracolo” is a livelier track with a more energetic rhythm. The band is adept at creating enveloping atmospheres and melodies that immerse us completely in their musical concept, with excellent vocal interpretations. The Oracle’s vocals are interwoven with dancing and engaging melodies, with an incisive and esoteric narrative. We come to the end of this journey, which ends with the epic title track “Nova Delfi,” over 13 minutes long, with an atmospheric and meditative sound. Interweaving arpeggios and ethereal melodies bring the sounds of the past into a fresh and modern context, with a second part exploring a more experimental side. The sounds are minimal and enriched by atmospheric effects that accompany us to the end of the listening session gently. This is a very special record, combining ancient sounds and instruments and bringing them into a modern and personal context. These long instrumental textures, interwoven with refined vocal interpretations, transcend space and time, reaching the listener in the form of enveloping emotions and atmospheres that accompany us throughout the tracklist. A different, original and highly recommended listen, which offers a very refined sound and refined themes, managing to bring the sounds of the past to the present day, while maintaining their essence.
Tracklist
01. Teogonie (03:55)
02. Al Tempio (09:48)
03. Danza Dell’Oracolo (07:41)
04. Nova Delfi (13:34)
