REALGAR is a new project formed by Claudia Florio and Roberto Marino: she was the singer of LUPERCALIA while he played guitar and flute for some time with ARGINE. The monicker comes from a mineral that is an arsenic sulphide (the same in the cover) and I’m quite curious to know the reason of this choice.
This is only a demo, but the quality of compositions makes me think they’ll soon release a full length with a good label.
The first track "Dello Ascoso Secreto dell’Alchimia" starts with a mix of electronic beats, orchestral pads and some astral noise, with a light remembrance of Vangelis or J.M. Jarre. A sort or bagpipe precedes a recitation in Italian, and the result is a track filled with an intense sense of sadness.
"Finis" shows the mix of electro and ancient music that it’s the mark of REALGAR (if I must compare them with other bands maybe there are references to DEAD CAN DANCE, QNTAL, or even ENIGMA). When I say "ancient" I’m not referring to the usual medieval atmosphere now in vogue in the symphonic dark scene: this track reminds me the music that ethnomusicologists are rebuilding basing on two thousand years old Roman or Jewish traces, so the feeling is to be in a dusty and magnificent tomb, or in an old pagan temple. The use of female voice is superb in this song.
"Brüke" is a track that alternates a recitative voice to a soprano singing, while the programming is a strong contrast with its progressive/trance influences and rhythmical beats.
"Blandizia di Giusarma" is based on the composition "A che più l’arco tendere" by Stefano Landi, a XVII century musician, and also in this case the sweet melody of the singing has a counter-attraction in a noisy music.
"Piroclastic Dance" it’s an instrumental track that will confuse you like taking a trip: with its dreamy pads and sitar-like notes, if you close your eyes while listening you’ll start to fly.
Definitively, this Promo 2006 it’s a really good work, and as I noticed during a live exhibition of REALGAR, Claudia Florio’s voice is even better than before: more spontaneous and intense than in the past, I think it fuses better with music and it’s more passionate. Very good job is also made by Roberto Marini’s instrumental work, who shows noteworthy composing skills. A better production, filing some crude sounds or giving more profundity to some pads or atmospheres, and this will become a great album.