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Rating:
THE REVIEW
Fate must have held a profound and unjustified hatred towards the Ithaca, a band we know very little about, which left us with a single album, practically a demo, recorded in the worst possible way. Fortunately, this poor production does not reflect the quality of their music, sweet and ethereal, gentle and melancholic, truly of great caliber.
"A Game for All Who Know" is undoubtedly a work that fits within the Progressive genre, yet it is infused with folk influences with typical late 60s English pop resonances, with extensive use of acoustic guitars, subtle keyboards, and light winds (flute) that occasionally intervene, giving it a dreamlike aura paradoxically accentuated by the rough recording. The alternation of male and female voices and the presence of choruses and counterpoints endows the album with a rarefied and suspended atmosphere, evoking solitary and placid scenarios.
The only flaw one might notice (apart from the production, as mentioned) is perhaps the excessive uniformity of the album, which lacks true sparks capable of awakening the "lethargy" it induces. However, if we consider this a deliberate stylistic choice and take into account that "A Game for" lasts just over half an hour, I would say the goal is fully achieved, allowing the listener to dream undisturbed throughout the course of the work.
Highly recommended (for those who manage to find it!).
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Summary by Bot
Ithaca's one and only album, 'A Game For All Who Know,' is a highly recommended progressive work with deep folk influences and a melancholic, dreamlike feel. Despite rough production, its gentle acoustic and vocal interplay creates a unique and immersive listening experience. While the album’s uniformity might lack dynamic highs, its short length maintains a continuous tranquil mood. This hidden gem offers a rare aura of suspended serenity for fans of ethereal and folk-infused progressive music.Tracklist
Ithaca
Band known from the album "A Game for All Who Know", described in the available review as a short, dreamy progressive work with folk and late 60s English pop influences, featuring acoustic guitars, subtle keyboards, flute, and alternating male/female vocals; the recording is described as rough, almost demo-like.01 Reviews
