Detailed Reviews [Daal - 2018 - "Navels Falling into a Living Origami"]

Prolusion. Italian band Daal was formed back in 2008, and have been actively recording and releasing material ever since they made their debut with the album "Disorganicorigami" back in 2009. At the time of writing they have seven studio albums to their name, of which the most recent appeared in 2022. The album "Navels Falling into a Living Origami" dates back to 2018, and was released through their own label Agla Records.

Analysis. Daal is known for an eclectic approach to the landscapes they explore, and that is most certainly the case with this album. While perhaps not directly challenging as such it is a creation incorporating a multitude of different styles, and it is a one album track clocking in at just a few seconds shy of 50 minutes. Hence this isn't a production that will have a universal approach. That the greater majority of this creation is instrumental is also worth taking note of. What we have here is a composition going through multiple phases, with some phases serving as more transitional or transportation phases while others explore more defined themes and arrangements. Think Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition", but with much more variation applied to the intermediate sections. Atmospheric laden ambient sections and various noise constructions are used for those phases here, taking us on to more defined and vibrant passages exploring a good handful of different takes on the progressive rock spectrum. Often vibrant at that, encompassing everything from sparse arrangements with a bass driven core to more majestic and soaring tapestries more in line with symphonic progressive rock. Progressive electronic music is given a nod or three along the way, and landscapes with a bit more of a folk music inspired orientation is a part of the totality too. Going into greater detail of this creation without ending up writing a bit of a thesis is a bit of a challenge in itself, so I'll leave the details in the discovery process here to the individual listener to take on. This album is a journey to many different landscapes and territories, and one that most likely will continue to be a rewarding journey of discovery for a number of visits.

Conclusion. Eclectic and expressive progressive rock with an inclusive stance to a number of variations inside this universe as well as to elements and orientation from outside this universe is what you get with this mammoth one-track album by Daal. While the music tends to be if not on the most inviting side then at least often exploring waters of a more tranquil nature, a bit of drama, noise and subtly challenging features is as much a part of the journey as escapades of a more melodic and welcoming nature. With some vibrant territories visited along the way. A production to seek out if the thought of exploring a 50 minute long expressive and inclusive composition sounds like something you would enjoy.

Progmessor: January 2023
The Rating Room