Corde Oblique - Respiri (2005)

Artista: Corde Oblique

Álbum: Respiri
Año: 2005
Género: Clásico moderno / Prog Folk
Duración: 60:41
Nacionalidad: Italia

Lista de Temas:
01. Intro (Captatio Benevolentiae)
02. My promise
03. Eventi
04. Waves
05. 06. ... Di Parigi
07. Ascesi
08. Orme
09. Fantasia sui tasti bianchi
10. Untitled
11. A guitar sounded like a lute
12. Dentro
13. Le onde
14. Progressive
15. Winds of fortune

Alineación:
- Riccardo Prencipe / guitarras
guests:
Caterina Pontrandolfo / vocals, soprano, spoken voice
Alfredo Notarloberti / violin)
Catarina Raposo / vocals
Alessandra Santovito / vocals
Corrado Videtta / vocals
Luigi Rubino / piano
Francesco Villani / piano
Franco Perreca / clarinet

Primer álbum de este singular proyecto italiano, liderado por Riccardo Prencipe, compositor y guitarrista experto, quien se reúne de talentosos músicos para llevar adelante su propuesta de renovación de la música clasisista, con un sonido etéreo, en una fascinante mezcla de folk clásico, medieval del sector Mediterráneo (y hasta con algunos aires de flamenco), con el rock, generando sinergias y fuerzas ocultas sobre las que insiste y depende.
Han surgido numerosos proyectos italianos en los últimos años, ya sea bajo la rúbrica "Rock Progresivo Italiano" o no (seguramente será tomado como un error, ya que esta obra poco o nada tiene que ver con esa clasificación, sobretodo porque empieza con "Rock", pero yo etiquetado este álbum justamente como "Rock Progresivo Italiano" para identificar de donde proviene). Recientemente, una nueva campana parece estar sonando en esas tierras, grupos que trabajan más en base a sus propias raíces, en la época del Renacimiento, grupos como Oloferne.
Esto es una deliciosa música antigua que suena con un montón de instrumentos acústicos de cuerda y sin guitarra eléctrica, cantado en italiano por hermosas voces.
Su estilo se asemeja a algo parecido al grupo MIA, pero en una versión ma´s pesimista y más melódica, o ya que estamos en grupos argentinos una referencia puede ser el mejor y oscuro Magma (el Magma argentino, obvio) pero basado no el folk de las pampas sino de la tanada, en un estado de ánimo medieval. Si han escuchado y gustan de los últimos trabajos de Anathema, creo que seguramente sabrán apreciar este trabajo.

«Respiri» is the new folk-ethereal-ethnic album from the guitarist-composer Riccardo Prencipe, already mind of the Lupercalia project.
Corde Oblique is the name that Riccardo gave to the equipe of sound artists' that collaborate to this new album.
A precious musical chapter, a resonant journey that takes us from little rainy harbours to distant valleys. From the ancient town of Assisi to the beauty of Paris, from the myth of Miseno to the ancient Caserta's splendours.
Those who love music that gives visions can't miss this release. Over 60 minutes that flow with the desire of listening to it again.
Fundamental base of music: fine arts from which emerges each note.
Riccardo Prencipe: composer, ensemble's mind, plays all classic guitar's lines, percussions, synths, working on the arrangements and lyrics. Experienced Lupercalia's composer-guitarist, with two album released that have had lots of excellent reviews throughout Europe.
He released the first instrumental album «Soehrimnir» (World Serpent - 2000) with the violinist Pierangelo Fevola and the second one «Florilegium» (Equilibrium Music - 2004) with the soprano Claudia Florio.
Riccardo continues his musical activity changing name into «Corde Oblique» by feeling the need of collaboration with different voices and instrumentalists that gave a big contribution to the creation of this album, as executors and in a creative way:
Caterina Pontrandolfo: chant, soprano, spoken voice.
Alfredo Notarloberti: violinist of Argine, Ashram, Lupercalia.
Catarina Raposo: Dwelling's voice.
Alessandra Santovito: voice of the Hexperos project, ex-Gothica.
Corrado Videtta: voice and guitarist of Argine.
Luigi Rubino: Ashram's pianist.
Francesco Villani: talented pianist.
Francesco Perreca: talented clarinettist.
This equipe of sound artists offers us a list of tracks that never bores thanks to the big variety of voices and styles which, at the same time, well melt togheter.
The precious CD-slipcase with 20 pages booklet has been designed by Mario Rega and enriched by lovely photographies. Among the names the famous japanese photographer Kenro Izu and the great Lucia Patalano. The magic of places, things and traditions lives again through the immages of: Angelo Antolino, Suilvio Siciliano and Alfonso Veneziano.

arkrecords.net

"The new folk-ethereal-ethnic album from the guitarist-composer Riccardo Prencipe
(ex Lupercalia)"
Corde Oblique is the name that Riccardo Prencipe gave to the equip of sound artists that collaborate to this new album. A precious musical chapter, a resonant journey that takes us from little rainy harbors to distant valleys. From the ancient town of Assisi to the beauty of Paris, from the myth of Miseno to the ancient Caserta's splendors. An album for those who love music that gives visions. Riccardo Prencipe: composer, ensemble's mind, plays all classic guitar's lines, percussions, synths, working on the arrangements and lyrics. Experienced Lupercalia's composer-guitarist, with two albums released. He released the first instrumental album "Soehrimnir" (World Serpent - 2000) with the violinist Pierangelo Fevola and the second one "Florilegium" (Equilibrium Music - 2004) with the soprano Claudia Florio. Riccardo continues his musical activity changing name into Corde Oblique by feeling the need of collaboration with different voices and instrumentalists that gave a big contribution to the creation of this album, as executors and in a creative way.

Riccardo Prencipe - composer, ensemble's mind, classic guitar's, percussion, synths,
arrangements and lyrics; Caterina Pontrandolfo - chant, soprano, spoken voice;
Alfredo Notarloberti - violin; Catarina Raposo - vocals; Alessandra Santovito - vocals;
Corrado Videtta - vocals; Luigi Rubino - piano; Francesco Villani - piano;
Francesco Perreca - clarinet

The “Intro” (Captatio Benevolentiae) of the album is a sneak preview of what is to come, delicate classical guitars and percussion with the beautiful violin of Alfredo Notarloberti, the violinist of Argine, Ashram and Lupercalia. After the delicate and classical opening the upbeat and the violin gives the piece a folky touch. Next is “My promise” that opens with an eastern sound but as soon Caterina Pontrandolfo's chant and the medieval percussion starts the song has a more folky atmosphere. Halfway the track beautiful melodies played by classic guitar and violin gives the track a classical ending. “Eventi” is one of my favorite tracks. The beautiful voice of Corrado Videtta gives the piece the atmosphere of an old Italian movie. And everywhere on this album is the violin of Alfredo Notarloberti. This is one of the more progressive/symphonic tracks of this album and it reminds me of the album “La Meccanica Naturale” from the Italian prog band Finisterre. “Waves” is sung by Catarina Raposo the vocalist of the Portuguese band Dwelling. However she sings in English on this track her voice always gives the music a kind of atmosphere that is related to Fado. There are beautiful texts and lyrics in this song. Sadly your reviewer is watching at the carton sleeve of his promo with the beautiful photo of the Japanese photographer Kenro Izu. He is missing the booklet with the lyrics and the other photography. “... Di Parigi” is a beautiful classical track with the piano of Ashram's pianist Luigi Rubino and the guitar of Riccardo Prencipe. “Ascesi” has again the typical Medieval atmosphere you can find often in Neo-Classical music. This piece with parts of immense beauty includes the clarinet of Francesco Perreca, of course the violin and the beautiful voice of Caterina Pontrandolfo. Alessandra Santovito, voice of the Hexperos project and ex-Gothica is the vocalist in “Orme”. What a diversity in voices and vocal styles on this album! A delicate slow song with great melodies. “Fantasia sui tasti bianchi” is a great and delicate classical piano piece played by Francesco Villani. Caterina Pontrandolfo's voice returns in “A guitar sounded like a lute”. The delicate classical guitar is combined with keyboard strings and samples of surround noises that gives the piece an atmosphere with a filmic character. In “Dentro” Caterina Pontrandolfo sings soprano and is most of the time only accompanied by the classical guitar and the violin. In the short atmospheric piece “Le onde” a spoken voice is combined with samples of the sound of waves that reach the shore. “Progressive” is a beautiful acoustic guitar piece. I said it before this album has parts of immense beauty. The highlight of the album is the long last track “Winds of fortune” in which Catarina Raposo is singing in her native language Portuguese. What a beautiful voice she has and she sings with such a passion and delicacy. And only accompanied by the beautiful classic guitar of Riccardo Prencipe and the melodic violin parts of Alfredo Notarloberti. I'm speechless .... what an immense beauty.
“Respiri” the folk-ethereal-ethnic album of Corde Oblique is an album that includes beautiful melodies and moments of immerse beauty. Next to Riccardo Prencipe violist Alfredo Notarloberti has also an important role on this album. This duo is accompanied by excellent musicians and the most beautiful voices in the scene. It is that diversity, the variety of voices and vocal styles that makes this album so special. Highly recommended for the adventurous progfan.

Douwe Fledderus

Corde Oblique is the musical project created by Riccardo Principe, head of folk ethereal ethnic band Lupercalia, that with the album Sohenimir (2000) and Florilegium (2004) has already proved to be a promise in the Italian scene. His guitar sounds and percussions are the main lines of this refined and precious musical journey realized with the help of "sounds artist" like Catarina Raposo (Dwelling), soprano Caterina Pontrandolfo, violinist Alfredo Notarloberti, Alessandra Santovito (Hexperos), Corrado Videtta (Argine), Luigi Rubino (Ashram), Francesco Villani and Francesco Perreca.
Each of these great musician manages to give the album his/her own particular taste, to create a different image, to evoke impressions and places. It’s a music closely connected to the fine arts: if you try to close your eyes you can find yourself walking along Paris' smoky streets or in ancients villages of Southern Italy. "Respiri" perfectly combines the deep knowledge of ancient worlds with the secrets of folk music, the extraordinary technical mastery with the use of popular instruments. Every track is a precious masterpiece, some instrumental, some with vocals, some spoken like the beautiful poem "Le Onde" recited by Caterina Ponterandolfo.
I particularly like the delicate and nostalgic "Orme" performed by Alessandra Santovito, "..Di Parigi", and fascinous "Wings Of Fortune", resembling a Portuguese fado. "Respiri" has also been used as soundtrack in Fabiola Giancotti's documentary "Palermiti" (2005).

Roberta T.

Les presento la hermosa música creada por un moderno trovalor italiano. Este álbum que traigo no lo considero su mejor producción pero era la que tenía a mano. Igualmente, sus 4 álbums son de gran calidad aunque el que se lleva todos los laureles es su último trabajo llamado "A Hail of Bitter Almonds" del año 2011.
Conózcanlo, no se van a arrepentir, salvo que la música tranquila los saque de quicio.
Esta propuesta es mágica, pagana, nostálgica, oscura, delicada, atrevida pero de una gran calidad melódica. Ojalá la sepan disfrutar. Prueben, no se arrepentirán, esta es una excelente propuesta y además muy original.

www.cordeoblique.com