FACT! Goblin reunited to score Dario Argento's 2001 film, Non Ho Sonno. Was it a one-off? Perhaps, but what a glorious one it was, immortalized on the soundtrack album for fans to relish. They still had it. Claudio Simonetti (keyboards), Massimo Morante (guitars), Fabio Pignatelli (bass), and Agostino Marangolo (drums) proved they still held the power to make the kind of magic you hear on Suspiria, Profondo Rosso, Zombi, and Roller.
FACT! Goblin still exists—in a way. Daemonia is Claudio Simonetti's vehicle for showcasing Goblin standards, today. In addition to Goblin & solo material, Claudio has integrated introduced music by other film composers into the live arena, all interpreted in a uniquely Daemonic way. Currently available only as an import, Live In Tokyo is the quartet's fabulous new document of their October, 2002 performance at the club Ruido in Tokyo, Japan.
Random Thought #1: "I already have Live…Or Dead. Why should I buy this? When is Daemonia going to release an original album, not tributes or live albums?" Daemonia's new studio album is forthcoming, presumably this year, but only Claudio and God know when! As per Claudio's m.o., we can always expect nonoriginals as well as originals.
Random Thought #2: "These are all of the same tracks on Live…Or Dead." Yes—but a year later—in Tokyo, not Italy! This show is tighter, more ballsy, and the sound is better! "No bonus studio tracks, either." Nope. This is nearly seventy minutes of purely live performance, just prior to their now legendary appearance at ProgWest 2002. There's the hook: those of us who shook in rapturous agony at that gig can basically enjoy everything they did that night, immortalized on a slim, flat disc of silver. The only tune that is missing is a golden one: "Zombi." We'll just have to get past that, however. We do get the wonderful version of Bach's "Toccata and Fugue," and to that add a keyboards solo spot by Claudio.
The newest live version of "Phenomena" is enthralling, and perhaps the best one, yet—Elena Berera lends her beautiful soprano vox to that track, and the haunting masterpiece, "Opera." Claudio's arrangement of the Halloween and Inferno themes (the latter was penned by one Keith Emerson) are much more than wistful retreads. And can we ever do without the stately anthem of Dawn Of The Dead? Not this guy. It's an addiction that won't kick. Claudio isn't the only star, either—he picks his players because they've got the goods. They play the material as well as, if not better than, their original counterparts. Federico Amorosi's 5-string bass attack is snazzy, Bruno Previtali's shredding is DefCon3, and Titta Tani's drumming pulses like the beating heart of Mammon's faithful steed. When this outfit performs…notice that it's always dark out.
Tracklist:
1. L'alba dei Morti Viventi 5:18
2. Introducing the band 0:30
3. Demon 5:22
4. Halloween (J. Carpenter/A. Howarth) 4:11
5. Tubular Bells (M. Oldfield) 2:21
6. Inferno (K. Emerson) 1:50
7. Mater Tenebrarum (k. Emerson) 3:17
8. Opera 4:45
9. Toccata e Fuga (J.S. Bach) 5:16
10. Suspiria 5:23
11. Tenebre 6:08
12. La Sindrome di Stendhal (E. Morricone) 5:29
13. School At Night (G. Gaslini) 0:53
14. Mad Puppet 3:24
15. Titta-drums solo 1:16
16. Simonetti-keyboards solo 3:02
17. Profondo Rosso 5:25
18. Phenomena 5:14
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
