DIALETO — The Last Tribe (review)

Album · 2013 · Jazz Related Rock

4/5 · 2013-10-13
progshine

Instrumental music can be very tricky. Usually you have two roads to follow: the well-crafted road and the jamming away nonsense road. I have known Dialeto for quite some time and I even reviewed their latest album Chromatic Freedom (2010). I confess that when I have heard that the band was going full instrumental I was a bit worried that they would go down the second road. I also liked their unique and 'weird' style.

Dialeto has new 'wheels' to ride. In the past, the driver of the bass was Andrei Ivanovic, he used to play the fretless bass. In The Last Tribe (2013) Dialeto's low notes were played by Jorge Pescara (I already reviewed his latest solo album progshine.net/2013/06/review- jorge-pescara-knight-without.html). Jorge doesn't exactly play only the bass, he plays the Megatar and touch-guitars. They're like the Chapman Stick, but in Dialeto's The Last Tribe (2013) they fulfill the bass role with an extra. The rest of the band is still the same with Nelson Coelho (guitars) and Miguel Angel (drums).

The Last Tribe (2013) was recorded between the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013 and it's their first international record, being released by Moonjune Records. The album was produced and Mixed by Nelson Coelho and the band and was mastered by Fabio Golfetti (the leader of Violeta De Outono). Not much different from their latest album. Nelson is also responsible for the great cover artwork. The album was released in the format that they call eco-pack. For me it's just a cardboard envelope. Which is kind sad, cause the cover art would be great in a well-made digipack.

But what really matters is the music inside The Last Tribe (2013). And I'm happy to say that my worries turned out to be unfounded. The music on the album is good and interesting. 'Windmaster' opens the album and it's like the track is speaking to you, and it's very clear that Jorge added a new dimension to Dialeto's sound.

Some tracks like 'Dorian Grey', 'Lydia In The Playground', 'Whereisit' and 'Sand Horses' are dense and full of guitar layers everywhere, but never forgetting the melodies. In general The Last Tribe (2013) is very well balanced, the songs are not too lengthy, this is clever, the listener will not get tired.

'Unimpossible' is the longest track with 7'47. It's a bit nonsense till the second minute when the track becomes intense and interesting. Some tracks, like 'Tarde Demais' start with no drums and are focused on the guitar melodies, but as soon as the drums appear they make everything better.

'Vintitreis' remind me of the 'old' Dialeto and it's my favorite on the album. 'Chromaterius' closes the album as a soundtrack to a thriller movie. Once again they fool the listener and the drums comes kicking hard towards the end of the song. The touchguitars play as if they were a cello and everything sounds like a mini orchestra. A good ending, indeed. I'm happy to say that Dialeto's The Last Tribe (2013) is based on good, well-crafted and melodic compositions rather than free jamming. It makes you want to listen to the album again.

Dialeto's could have been travelling on thin ice with this album, instead, they're now driving on the safe highways of good music. Recommended!

(Originally posted on progshine.net)