Caravela Escarlate: III

Can it really be four years since we heard from Caravela Escarlate? Well, 2019 was when the three-piece released their self titled second album and now we get the equally succinctly titled III. Thankfully the music is much more inspired, this Brazilian outfit, comprising keyboard player Ronaldo Rodriguez, bassist and singer Davia Paiva along with Elcio Cafaro on drums, clearly revelling in what they do. Now they may hail from South America, but as with the band’s previous outings, if you had made me guess where they hailed from without that prior knowledge, I would have said Italy, such are the rounded keyboard tones and clever use of busy rhythms. Yes, it’s easy to hear influences from the British 70s prog giants - but they feel like they’ve been filtered through something much more central European, and all the better for it they become.

Seven tracks where five run to over seven minutes highlights that the ethos here is exploration, evolution and a clever mix of vocal led sections and some incredible instrumental workouts where all three, and especially Rodriguez’s keyboard work, shine incandescently. The closing “Filter dos Sonhos� is a prime example, the mood and base set through some excellent band interplay before the tone changes and bass alone slides into your mind. From there, slowly, the keyboards take off, swooping and diving with a power and grace that many could learn from. It’s all remarkably retro-based stuff but when it’s as good as this, does that really matter?

Worth a mention is the innovative drumming from Cafaro, his ability to be both economical and remarkably busy creating an interesting counterpoint that’s never quite resolved, even if the conclusion is that it is a real strength of what holds this album in place. It also emboldens the slightly Brazilian flavours that inflect some of what you hear. “Sonhos Medievals� illustrates that this album is equally as impactful in a less ebullient situation, with keyboard phrases reminding of Vangelis at his most rocking. Thematically III is about Roman Empires, Medieval Times, Pre-Columbian Civilizations and Ages of Discovery, with its cover artwork being a painting by the British artist J.M.W.Turner portraying the eruption of Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii in AD 79 - although beware, if you need English lyrics to hang your hat on, you won’t find them here. It’s the smallest of niggles (actually, to me, it’s a bonus, even if I don’t understand the words), because the music itself is as good as retro fuelled progressive rock gets in 2023.

Track Listing
1. Bússola do Tempo 

2. Castelos do Céu 

3. Sonhos Medievais

4. Mandala 

5. Cruz da Ordem 

6. Ciclos

7. Filtro dos Sonhos

Added: March 24th 2023
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Caravela Escarlate @ bandcamp
Hits: 447
Language: english

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