Album
Type:
Full
Length
Date
Released:
May 11th 2015
Label:
Self
Released
Of
Trees And Demons - Track Listing:
1.Ocean 05:16
2.Atomic axilla,
robot Godzilla 05:21
3.Suzy 06:16
4.Trees and Demons
06:35
5.Desert 11:15
6.57 07:30
7.Event horizon
13:55
Members:
Mattia Leonardo
Bozzetti (Guitar)
Riccardo Pancotti
(Bass/Vocals)
Gerson De Oliveira
(Drums)
Review:
Narrenschiff
is a relatively new band formed in 2010 Senigallia, a port town on
Italy’s Adriatic coast. They released a demo in 2014 before signing
to Red Sound Records for ‘Of Trees and Demons’, their first
full-length, released in May of 2015. Their name seems derived from
the Germanic Das Narrenschiff,translating into “ship of fools” -
both the name of a collection of (mostly) religious satire
illustrated in part by famed Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer and a
painting by Dutch surrealist Hieronymus Bosch.
Narrenschiff’s
sound seems equally informed by both doom and desert rock. There also
seems to be strong ties to their coastal town; a number of the songs
have nautical themes and the album opens with the sound of a storm at
sea. The riffs themselves ebb and flow between crashing waves of
sound and moments of serenity. Samples (Godzilla 1985, Dune and
Invasion of the Body Snatchers among them) also help to set the mood.
Singer
and bassist Richard Pancotti’s vocals call to mind Christian
Linderson/Lord Chritus in Terra Firma (albeit a bit lower in
register) with a taste of Ben Ward’s trademark Orange Goblin grit.
Pancotti’s bass playing suits the tracks well, never crowding the
melody while constantly driving the rhythm. The lyrics, sung in
English, are poetic and intelligent, though his endearing accent at
times will have you reaching for the lyric sheet. Mattia Leonardo
Bozzetti’s rhythm sound is fuzzy and warm, reminiscent of the self
titled QOTSA record or Celestial Season’s Orange record; he borrows
from Josh Homme’s bag of tricks over the course of the album’s 7
tracks without totally aping his style.
When
the dynamics dip down,I’m reminded of Colour Haze’s Stefan
Koglek’s and when the leads kick in, they are awash in psychedelic
chorus, flange and reverb, more melody than flash. Drummer Gerson De
Oliveira pounds the drums like they owe him money, a veritable Brant
Bjork that pairs well with Bozetti’s playing and creates a solid
backbone for Narrenschiff’s well-crafted tunes. The highlights for
me here are “Suzy” and “Trees and Demons”, but most fans of
the genre will find something to sink their teeth into in each of “Of
Trees and Demons” songs. This first full-length by Narrenschiff
pays respect to their influences and shows a band well on the way to
creating a sonic niche of their own- the sound of the desert by the
sea.
Words
by: Bill Kole
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