Brazillian progressive rock band Dialeto consists of Nelson Coelho on guitar and mellotron guitar, Gabriel Costa on bass guitar and vocals, Fred Barley on drums and vocals. They get a rare treat as former King Crimson violinist David Cross joined them for this exciting live album recorded live in Sao Paulo in July of 2017. "Romanian Folk Dances 2" demonstrates the group's ability to meld world music with progressive rock and elements of jazz fusion. The track opens with mysterious guitar, before thick bass and percussion fall in, driving the music forward into an explosive interplay of blistering guitar and ferocious drumming. David Cross joins the group onstage beginning with "Mikrokosmos 113 - Bulgarian Rhythm I" giving the music an interesting textural lift that encourages the band to blast off for the stratosphere, as pulsing bass and slashing drums launch the guitar and violin into orbit. Moody and atmospheric string tones open "Mikrokosmos 78 - Five Tone Scale" with subtle percussion framing the music and electronics, with the violin and guitar recalling Mahavishnu Orchestra, especially when they put the boot in and the music becomes louder and more complex. The group begins their exploration of classic King Crimson material with "Exiles" which is given a haunting electronically tinged introduction that hints at the original melody, with the violin floating gently across the soundscape. After a few minutes the guitar and drums crash in, giving rise to the soaring sound of the original tune, and a surprisingly spot-on John Wetton imitation from vocalist Barley, his vocals rising as the strings take flight in a majestic manner that is alternately soaring and scouring. "The Talking Drum" is given a glitchy electronic feedback opening, with radical percussion adding to the skittish feel before resolving in an excellent pulsating bass and percussion rhythm. Cross drives his violin across this percolating sensation, preceding the guitar which eases the song into a faster pace and a section of complicated interaction among the musicians.The music is not show-offy or unnecessarily obtuse, and they blast directly into "Larks' Tongues in Aspic Part Two" playing the familiar riff based tune with a muscular grace that is exemplified in the slower potions of this dynamic composition. They build the powerful nature of the song gradually, leading to a singular payoff. The magisterial "Strarless" ends the concert as it did for so many King Crimson concerts during Cross's tenure with the band. The familiar mellotron fueled melody frames the band as they lay the foundation for an epic performance, and Barley sings the enigmatic lyrics with gusto. The music gradually climbs in volume and Coelho puts hit own take on the astonishing Rober Fripp guitar solo that anchored the original recording, blasting the band into a full fledged collective section that is very impressive without being overly derivative.
Live with David Cross - amazon.com
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