Ancestry - Ancestry - 1999

intro

These guys of Ancestry come from Italy, the womb of the more melodic symphonic. They have released their first work which includes a selection of pieces created since the founding of the band, at the end of the 80s. Ancestry plays, as could not be otherwise, a symphonic progressive of lyrical and unequivocally Italian style and, sometimes, close to the neo-prog of the mid 80´s.

review

The first two pieces that open the album ("Sands" (9:23) and "My room" (9:03) are the only ones that are sung in English and the nearest to neoprog, although of a sweeter character, a la Pendragon of "The window of life", maintaining the obligatory references to Genesis. I suppose that would be the attempt to reach an international market possibly inclined to these sounds in the 80´s.

Where I believe that Ancestry become really interesting is in the pieces sung in Italian where they forget any Anglo-Saxon legacy and look for inspiration in the lyricism of bands like Banco or PFM, maintaining a certain lyrical-hymn taste a la Yes, and sometimes giving a mediterranean flavour to the colourful rhythm section, as we can observe in the central section of "Stanza della terra" (6:31). Continuing with the pieces included in the CD, "Il silenzio del tempo" (3:41) is very lyrical and beautiful, radiant and optimistic, but melancholic at the same time. Brilliant. "Oasi" (7:04) quite lowers the general level since, in spite of the masterful intervention of the piano and the pseudo-Arab echoes, the resemblance with the compositions of Marillion post-Fish are undeniable. "The stagione prossima" (5:21) is an energetic composition with some playful keyboards and a very catching vocal melody that is interspersed with guitar riffs and more solemn moments. Beautiful work of pianos and a lot of talent concentrated in five minutes that will be loved by the lovers of the most luminous symphonic. The last piece of the CD, "Labyrinth" (5:56) is typically Italian. A voice recites while the piano flies around a background of synthesizer and bass to finish with a melodic exchange of roles between guitar and piano.

 

conclusion

This first work of Ancestry (it is clear) is the summary of more than ten years of career. In ten years many things have changed -say it to Neal Morse- and, logically we can see different styles, influences and roads on which Ancestry has been walking during the last decade. If you like neoprogressive and/or the more lyrical and less experimental side of the Italian symphonic, I believe that you will do well giving a chance to Ancestry. Nevertheless, I believe that focus a little more in their objectives and fix a style, this band will give lots to speak in the future. Since it is a demo and it is almost impossible to find, you can request it at ancestry@freemail.it

author - date - rating - label

Alfonso Algora - February 2001 -   - Independent Release