Detailed Reviews [Il Paradiso Degli Orchi - 2020 - "Samir"]

Prolusion. Italian band Il Paradiso degli Orchi have a history that goes back to 2009, and from 2010 and through to 2020 the band have released three studio albums. "Samir" is the most recent of those albums, and was issued through Italian label AMS Records in 2020.

Analysis. Of the two albums I was sent by this band for the purpose of reviews, this second one is by far the most expressive and the one most difficult to categorize. The old website Progarchives have for many years used a category called Eclectic Prog, and to my mind this album is one that should be a fairly decent choice for such a category. Not due to a great deal of variety as such, but more due to the use and blend of some unusual style combinations. The core of the band's sound appears to be a retro-oriented variety of progressive rock, perhaps even heavy progressive rock, with majestic guitar and keyboard combinations delivered with ease when called upon and needed. But on this occasion the band opts to venture quite a bit outside of that foundation and into landscapes with a much different character indeed. For starters impulses from jazz pops up here and there, including one of the very few instances I have come across when a fairly delicate and careful interlude with more of a distinct jazz orientation also has an unnerving and ominous atmosphere. The flute leads the way on several sequences with a bit more of a classic progressive folk-rock expression, cue the name-dropping of Jethro Tull. But we also get the occasional blend of impulses from both jazz and folk with as well as without the rock tag attached. Perhaps more importantly we also get quite a few instances of details from world music added to the sonic palette here, from less dominant but still quite audible percussion elements to more full blown majestic passages that by accident or design strikes me as having a little bit of the spirit of Zeppelin's 'Kashmir' in some of the melody lines. Another vital and important point to make here is that several vocal parts and a select few arrangements as well have been given a bit of an experimental treatment, of the kind that probably steps over the borders to the avant progressive rock territories at times. Indeed, a few of the vocal parts here gave me associations to the expressive universe of voices that fellow Italian Claudio Milano has been exploring in his musical excursions. Not as profound nor as expressive in this case, and nowhere near as dominant in the order of things either, but it is a part of the totality here. And it is a totality that in sum is both expressive and eclectic.

Conclusion. With "Samir", Il Paradiso Degli Orchi have taken the good, old retro-oriented progressive rock for quite a shakedown, infusing it with jazz, folk and world music elements and then given it a light seasoning of avant flavors. Quite the captivating experience at it's best, and while this is an album that will demand a bit of extra attention from the listeners, those who tend to or think they will enjoy a more expressive and demanding take on retro-oriented progressive rock should have a field day with this album.

Progmessor: February 2022
The Rating Room