il Rumore del Fiore di Carta - Lesson 3/how to live without senses‏

First off, two quick apologies. One for not posting a review yesterday; was extremely tired and am beginning to run out of albums I haven't reviewed - second, for keeping this one delayed. I got an email from the band back in mid-April, a (in their own words) postrock band from Italy who've put themselves into the genres of ambient, experimental and psychedelic (according to their MySpace). Their third album now, Lesson 3 is certainly an intense listening experience.

First track 'Damaged Robots (In A Camomilla Bar)' is a U2-like experimentation with distorted guitars, twee tunes and, most impressive, drummer Aleesandro Salzmann's frenetic energy. It rockets along always with a sense of danger, culminating in quite explosive atmospherics. 'Part-Time Superhero' however reins in the tension with a track not dissimilar to DeVotchKa's "How It Ends" from the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack. With a slow electronic drumbeat however it sounds more like a Massive Attack cover of it - cute piano tunes and chillout ambience combining rather well.


A subdued trumpet mopes around 'Minigolf Striker' (I'm not really sure what the title has to do with the song) until the inclusion of weighty, emotional guitars and stargazing synths in the background that gives the track a kind of Coldplay feel if they were to drop the safe 3-minute approach. Indeed, at nearly 11 minutes the track would be at risk from most attention spans - but there's a progressive, orchestrated approach that feels that with every minute a new direction is taken; new instruments are thrown at you and it feels fresh.

However 'Last Dog In A Talk-Show' sounds a little too similar to both of the previous tracks: combining the quiet brass of Minigolf Striker with the pretty-pianos of Part-Time Superhero and it feels a little boring at this stage. 'Gold Medals For Rent' continues this mixture at a much more succinct rate (only 4 minutes long) but even those few feel like a lifetime, sounding something like a Bloc Party instrumental. 'Music For Vegan Vampires' just about wins the bizarrest song title award; semantics aside it's an increasingly dramatic piece with a snare drum that feels a little uncomfortable at times, overpowering the other instrumentation. However it's also more melodic than the previous couple of tracks and feels more exciting.


Final track 'The Blind Cosmonaut Under the Sea' is also the shortest: a brief melodic closer with a kind of Yann Tiersen signature - understated, beautiful piano tune. Indeed had the whole album been as simple as this and not gone a bit repetitive in the middle I'd probably feel more satisfied. The band have certainly got some emotional rapport though, and when at their best, il Rumore del Fiore di Carta are a stirring band.

Rating: 6/10
Highlights: The Blind Cosmonaut Under the Sea, Part-Time Superhero, Damaged Robots
Avoid: Gold Medals For Rent, Last Dog In A Talk-Show

Artwork Watch: Looks like a Japanese smelting worker drinking a Ribena. Tragic loss of limbs and face. But I like it.