Alcantara - 2025 - Tamam Shud

(43:27; Alcantera)






















Alcantara are back with their second album, following on from 2019’s ‘Solitaire’ which I found quite enjoyable. That album was sung purely in English, while this time around it is in both Italian and English (the band hail from Catania in Sicily). It has been six years since the debut, and possibly that is something to do with line-up issues as while Francesco Venti (lead guitar), Sergio Manfredi (vocals) and Salvo Di Mauro (guitar) have returned, as has drummer Rosario Figura who played on just two songs last time around, we now have a new bassist in Delio Santi and they have brought in a third guitarist with Vittorio Distefano with a guest keyboard player on three tracks and guest violinist on one.

While the album is bi-lingual, the title is another language altogether, as it means “it is over” in Persian, and while the band may have made some changes in who is involved, musically it is definitely very related to the last one. It is modern psychedelic with plenty of ballads and a soundscape which is both fragile and all encompassing. From listening to the album one would not necessarily recognise there are three guitarists involved as it is all about interweaving threads and lines as opposed to majestic riffs and power chords and certainly does nothing to make me think of April Wine (the first band I ever saw with three guitarists) or Iron Maiden. 

While there are times when the music seems almost throwaway (there is a section on “Sail” which reminds me of cinema adverts each time I play it), for the most part we have arrangements which are designed to keep Manfredi’s vocals front and centre at all times. As with the debut, this is an incredibly atmospheric album, but as with the debut I do not believe there is enough contrast within, so while it is easy to get lost inside that is not always a good thing as there are times when it can be a little smothering. However, this is yet again quite an enjoyable release, and I will keep an eye to see what happens next. 

Kev Rowland, September 2025

Links:
https://www.bandalcantara.com/

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