2006-02-24
Capriccio is a unique band from Germany. You don't find a lot of bands like Capriccio nowadays, especially not in Europe.
The band plays a blend of alternative rock with something that is reminiscent of grunge in its good old days, but the band does it all in the most melancholic manner possible.
The band members are Stauber the guitarist, Delle the drummer and Bernie the bass player, vocalist and lyricist.
This is the third release by the band but it is not a full LP, but only a seven-song EP.
The band, that started working together in 2001, starts this album with "Poor Boy", which I found pretty boring, too slow and too melancholic.
The next song, "Clue", is better, and maybe it's because the melody that accompanies the song; the song keeps the gloomy atmosphere, and high tones are rarely used here.
The next song, "Queens Of Cosa Nostra", sees a change in direction, with the band adding more rhythm and pace to the song, but still preserving the dark and gloomy atmosphere- The song reminds me of "Wings Of A Butterfly",
HIM's hit, which uses the same tactics of mixing pace and dark atmosphere into one song.
"Plastic Gogo" starts off with a misleading few notes, fast music that seemingly continues where "Queens Of Cosa Nostra" left off, but all of a sudden the music comes to a halt, and it continues very slowly throughout the song with sudden stops here and there; only the chorus gets some rhythm and some flowing music. As for the singing, we see a clean and quiet voice in most parts of the song with a few high tones in the chorus, but there is also a surprise combination with a growly voice that appears now and then.
This singing style pretty much repeats itself on the next track, "Lost In Thought", but musically speaking this song is different, opting for constant pace and rhythm with no stops or slowing down. However, this song ends very suddenly and it leaves you questioning yourself and the band "what were you trying to play? Grunge? Metalcore?" It's really unclear.
The next song, "Dog Without Bone", is the longest song, and this is one song I would have shorten; The song is a tribute of sorts to
Temple of the dog , and it is reminiscent musically and rhythmically of the band which consisted of
Mother love bone and
Soundgarden members along with the young Eddie Vedder, but at some point on this song you feel the music did its part and there is nothing left to say. That is where the band decides to add a completely unnecessary verse in my view before the song ends, Pity.
The last song, Habitat, is a song that combines singing elements taken from
Tool with metalcore-like growls and yells, and to that musical elements from
Alice In Chains are added, but still it's not performed convincingly enough to make me want to buy their stuff.
Maybe I should give them another chance in the future, when they'll have a full LP which will be supported by a record label and not by themselves.
Nir Haviv
