Album review: KARMAMOI – The Day Is Done

Sonicbond [Release date 30.11.18]

The fourth album from Italian proggers Daniele Giovannoni (drums, keys) and Alex Massari (guitars) aka Karmamoi is a concept album inspired by the story of two Syrian boys, one of whom died in the Grenfell Tower fire, and is more widely dedicated to refugees of war and poverty worldwide.

Having lost their bass player since their last release, The Day Is Done draws heavily on the input of guest musicians, most notably vocalist Sara Rinadli – one of several vocalists / lyricists last time out – but who this time is the sole singer / lyricist. Other guests on bass, flute and piano, include fleeting cameos from Colin Edwin (bass, Porcupine Tree) and Geoff Leigh (flute, Steven Wilson).

A genuine ‘prog’ outing, The Day Is Done paints an expansive soundscape, predominantly sculpted with pastoral, dreamy, ambient playing and ethereal guitar / keyboard work. OK, there’s a fair few familiar Floydian keyboard chord sequences, and the guitar work may not be as fluid as that of say David Gilmore, or Andy Latimer, it’s none the less splendidly atmospheric.

And if it were 1967 and the UFO club was looking for a new resident band, it’s fair to say Karmamoi would be a ‘shoo in’. Times may have changed, but there’s still a market for their musical interplanetary drift – multi layered textures constantly washing around and over you, interspersed with the occasional orgasmic passage through an asteroid belt.
So if you’re looking for an ambient ‘space rock’ album you can listen to a dozen times or more and still feel ‘lost in space’, give The Day Is Done a listen, it won’t disappoint. Intergalactic. ****

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 6 October 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 8 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 28 October 2024

IZZY REIGN Spooky Scary Skeletons (FiXT)
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 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)