Album review: EVELINE’S DUST – The Painkeeper

EVELINE'S DUST - The Painkeeper

[Release date 11.03.16]

Italian prog anyone?

Inspired by the usual suspects – King Crimson, Genesis, et al, and current exponents like Steven Wilson, Eveline’s Dust – a four piece Pisa, Tuscany – have produced a rather fine follow up to their 2013 debut Time Changes.

Badged as a ‘concept album’, The Painkeeper is made up of nine tracks spread over a vinyl length 44 minutes, but is equally digestible whole, or sliced and diced.

The brief opener ‘Awake’ is a microcosm of what Eveline’s Dust – Nicola Pedreschi – vocals, piano, Rhodes and keyboards, Lorenzo Gherarducci – electric and acoustic guitars, Marco Carloni – bass, and Angelo Carminati – drums, have to offer. Frenetic passages, but for the most part sublimely melodic. Quite remarkably so for such a young band.

There’s some marvellously subtle interplay throughout between Pedreschi and Gherarducci, Carloni’s bass tantalises when used as a third lead instrument, and Carminati’s drumming punctuates as well as holding the rhythm together.

Perhaps, only in the vocal department is there a weaknesses, but Carolina Paolicchi provides backing vocals to sure up that aspect. And a word must also go to Federico Avella who contributes some exquisite soprano sax on the Crimson-ish ‘NREM’ and ‘A Tender Spark Of Unknown’.

While it’s unfair to draw comparisons, in terms of overall ‘feel’ The Painkeeper has much in common, in delivery, with another concept album – Home’s often overlooked 1973 classic The Alchemist.

Back in the day Eveline’s Dust would have been welcomed to UK shores with open arms. But while Prog is a more niche market these days, anyone with an interest in the genre would be well advised to give this highly deserving album a listen. ****1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)