DORACOR is an anagram/pseudonym for keyboardist Corrado Sardella. "The Long Pathway" (1997), "Segni Premonitori" (1998) and "Antiche Impressioni" (1999) are the first three Doracor albums. These are high-caliber, primarily-instrumental symphonic rock albums, with Corrado handling most of the instruments himself, with assistance from guest musicians. These have a very full-band sound and a 1970..s orientation. The best way to think of them is as the albums Tony Banks could make if Tony made progressive rock solo albums instead of trying to match the chart success of Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford.
"Segni Premonitori" features a male singer (Emanuele "Toti" Pinto) and a guitarist (Max Farina) while "Antiche Impressioni" features Gianna Chillà (soprano vocals), Max Farina (guitars, vocals) and Marco Fedele (acoustic guitar). "Transizione" (2001) trumps the earlier albums, as here Sardella is aided by seven other musicians with male and female vocals in Italian. It is one of the best symphonic progressive albums that no one has heard and is quite similar to the first album by the French band HECENIA. Though it does have most of the hallmarks of the Italian 1970..s romantic progressive style, it is even more influenced by GENESIS circa "Wind and Wuthering", while at times the energy level suggests later bands such as IQ. "Transizione" features Milton Damia (guitars, vocals), Max Farina (vocals), Luisa Ladu (vocals), Piefrancesco Drago (traverso flute), Riccardo Mastantuono (violin, acoustic guitar), Marco Fedele (acoustic guitar) and Nico Di Già (guitars, backing vocals).
"Evanescenze" (2005) continues in this vein but is even better. Just male vocals this time around, but they are very strong, reminding one of ATON's or even LOCANDA DELLE FATE at times.
And now on the 6th album "Onirika" (2007), Doracor has long since gone from being a solo vehicle for Sardella to being a full band, though Sardella still writes the music. Mixing three parts GENESIS with one part classic Italian prog, Doracor have perfected their style and created another wonderful symphonic prog album. Female vocals return on this album and the male vocals are downplayed (lyrics in Italian), but the album is heavily instrumental. This isn’t any less original than half the progressive rock being made today, and recognition for Doracor is long overdue.
Extract from Kinesiscd.com
