NOVEMBRE
Dreams d'Azur
(Century Media Records)
69:50min

As it’s not easy to get a copy of NOVEMBRE’s debut album “Wish I Could Dream Again”, the band releases it via Century Media in November 2002 under the name of “Dreams D’Azur”. It’s re-recorded with the help of former members Thomas Negrini (keyboards) and Antonio Poletti (guitars). The change of the album’s name is in order not to confuse them but this way somebody might buy “Dreams d’Azur” although he belongs to the lucky ones who already bought the original. My guess that this has to do with the copyright of the debut album. NOVEMBRE fans will probably lay their hands on this one anyway and I can assure you that this is the right thing to do. For everybody who missed the band on tour with OPETH like me (couldn’t find the venue in time), this is what you get. NOVEMBRE not exclusively stands for long songs (they vary from 3 to 12 minutes). Still, an overall impression of floating dominates, no matter if your heart is melting at some acoustic passage or if an assault of extreme Metal (there are such passages on here, like a melodic Black Metal attack on ‘Novembre’) is making you dizzy. A title like ‘Swim Seagull In The Sky’ absolutely fits the music! Great PINK FLOYD mood on that one. Comparisons with bands like the aforementioned OPETH, MY DYING BRIDE or ANATHEMA seem to be justified as well although NOVEMBRE’s approach includes quite a few “progressive” uptempo breaks you wouldn’t expect from their partners in crime. Listening to NOVEMBRE definitely fits to the season (November) but also makes your heart a little lighter and I know I’ll keep listening to “Dreams d’Azur” in December… as well! There is more to Italy than pizza, pasta and mediocre HELLOWEEN clones! www.novembre.nu

Ramon Claassen

Ramon Claassen

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