Free Counterpoint
His Shrine
Roma
Maya Deren's Watermark
Frida
Dogs Unleashed
A room of his own
Freedom
Before the rain

Recorded at Q Studios, Chicago,
from September 2002 to August 2003

All music & lyrics composed,
arranged, directed & performed
by Fabio Brienza

Guest Musicians:
Adam Nelson - programming & drums
Cynthia Maine - cello
Lindsay Frkovich - vocals
on "Before the rain"
 

Charcoal's the splendid musical creature guided by Fabio Brienza, ex-vocalist and guitarist of Another Day moved to the States in 1999, helped in the occasion of the recording of the debut album - that I hope wil have a follow up! - by some guest-musicians.
Musically, they remind me a lil' bit more of certain avantgarde sonorities of Klimt 1918 label mates, and namely Room with a View, perhaps because of a good part of the vocals and some arrangements. But actually this album could appeal the listeners of both the bands above-mentioned.
And just like "Undressed Momento" and "First Year Departure", "Flowers in the cement" contains 9 songs. 
In the opening we find "Free Counterpoint", very dark-rock oriented, even in the vocals; maybe this first one is the more dark-rock sounding song of the whole record, though a certain dark-riffing guitar and bass lines in the same style can be found even in good part of the following tracks. In some passages the vocals, very deep and almost sensual, remind me both those of Placebo and vaguely even those of Beyond Dawn, these last ones because of a certain solemnity in the tone of the voice. Let's even say that some references to a certain stuff of Placebo may be found in the whole lenght of the record.

"His Shrine" is a crescendo, with beautiful bass lines, instrument that I adore and that luckily can be very well heard through all the songs of the record. The cello passages here and there then, are rightly chosen and give the song something weird.
Follows "Roma", that in the beginning is a lil' bit softer than the previous two songs, but then from the chorus onwards it makes definitely more powerful, even if the guitar parts always sound gloomy for the whole song. Even in this one, flutters Placebo's ghost in the air.
"Maya Deren's Watermark" conquered me since the very first listening: it's got such a nervous guitar riffing and a frantic drumming, a very throbbing bass in the background and some resolute vocals that vaguely remind those of Anathema and Placebo (yep! ... still them! Infact Fabio wrote me that my continuous references to Placebo are well founded, since he likes this band very much even if, at the same time, he thinks that the making of his songs is much more different and elaborate). But it's absolutely not an aggressive song, just something that immediately grips into your head.
Even the following "Frida" is a lil' bit softer, but however possesses some involving guitar parts and intriguing vocals solutions.
Also "Dogs Unleashed" is very nevrotic and is the song in which the comparison with Placebo results more evident, especially in the vocals: listen to believe! It's a song of a sweeping beauty even because, as it goes by, it gets darker and the effects in the final part, even on the vocals, are so winning.
In "A room of his own" vocals are splendid as usual and remind a lot those of the Cavanagh bros from Anathema of "A Natural Disaster"; curios, if you think that both records were more or less out in the same period (November 2003). The musical passage in the final of the song is something memorable and even the lyrix.
"Freedom", together with "Maya Deren's Watermark", is probably my absolute fave one, the song that you're already lookin' forward to hearing again once the cd is over. I like the text in general, the vocal melody and that sort of desparation of nature, increased by all consuming piano touches. Great song!
"Before the rain" ends up the album with a flourish, even if it's very gloomy, because of its sad orchestrations in the background. Rightly performed even the female vocals together with those of Fabio and beautiful once more even the lyrix.
I also just wanted to promote with full marks vocals by Fabio on this record but, on the other hand, when he 'screamt' in Another Day the musical style was a lil' bit different...
As from the graphic point of view, the booklet's very plain and essential, since it's all printed in black & white. It doesn't include the lyrix sheet, but unlike Klimt 1918, these are easily downloadable from the website and if I was you, I'd try to get both.
And thanks again a lot Fabio for sending me this beautiful cd! I await confident further developments...