Lanomali Totem

Runaway Totem is a progressive Italian band of long standing, which was formed in 1988 in Riva del Garda (TN) after an accurate project by Cahal de Betel (Roberto Gottardi) e Mimir de Bennu (René Modena). The Elements which compose Runaway Totem have taken possession of different people and musicians over the time. It is important to understand that their interchange was not due to human conflicts, but rather Runaway Totem’s will.

The debut album from this great Italian zeuhl band. A band who unfortunate has only released two albums.
To say that the music on this album is complex is an understatement. The music style is symphonic somewhere between fusion, avant-garde and zeuhl. The Magma influences are many. But Universal Totem Orchestra is much more varied and playful than Magma has ever been. Universal Totem Orchestra is all over the place with their toys on this album.

This band is connected to their compatriots Runaway Totem not only by their name, but also by the fact that drummer Uto Giorgio Golin and bassist Dauno Giuseppe Buttiglione, here joined by vocalist Ana Torres Fraile, keyboardist Marco Zanfei and a large group of guest musicians, used to be the rhythm section for Runaway Totem. Like Runaway Totem, Universal Totem Orchestra have their roots in a rather guitar-heavy version of zeuhl, but UTO mix this with a gamut influences ranging from symphonic rock to world music and beyond.
However one wants to classify this album, or whatever sub-genre one wants to put it in, it can all be said in one little word, "beautiful". Whether it is the soaring classical vocals, the perfect piano accompaniment, the amazing bass, or the move between jazz, fusion, funk, classical, Arabian and progressive styles, it really is the only word that matters…

Universal Totem Orchestra is an offshoot project from the Italian Zeuhl band RUNAWAY TOTEM and this album appeared between their second Zed and the third album Andromeda. As Runaway Totem is generally not regarded as Zeuhl leading band, often gathering unfavourable critics by specialist and buyers, it was somewhat surprising that UTO 's sole album Rituale Alieno was such a success (relatively speaking). Where RT was dry, square, heavy, uninventive and uninspired, UTO's Rituale Alieno is much lighter, fun, even a tad inventive, and enthralling. However, there is a gothic side to UTO, in great part due to the vocals, which range from the Gregorian chants to other choirs and operatic vocals, often soprano female and male baritone

Akron’s native bluesmen, The Juke Hounds, released their album, “Low Man on the Totem Pole,” a rip-roaring collection of 10 loud and vibrant tracks. The disc captures all the energy of a large blues festival, and it’s impossible not to get up and start shaking along to the rhythm of each tune. The guys are obviously well versed in the catchy music they write and perform, and “Low Man on the Totem Pole” is an example of how to do blues right. With repetitive hooks and toe-tapping rhythms, the band is pure fun and are experts at their craft.

When you consider the numerous bands out there to listen to, you need to make a statement to have your first album heard. In the liner notes The Juke Hounds talk about an uplifting side of the blues. Maybe the happy blues doesn’t sound that good on paper to me, but blues is an uplifting music no matter how you play it. I do give these guys credit for trying something different on paper.The Hounds fought through the Cleveland Blues Society in 2010 to win a trip to the International Blues Competition in Memphis the following year. These guys have the competitive chops to take their mission to the next level……