STORYBOOK

This set was recorded at ProgDay in 1997, and was originally released on Peter Renfro's own Proglodite label. As with the DFA release this has been issued as a Digipak, and that is not the only similarity as yet again this is an Italian band playing their first gig in America. Musically there are also some similarities in the way that they can both play ferocious rock that is interspersed with some gentle vocals. The major musical difference in that Finisterre also feature flautist Sergio Grazia, who provides the band with an extra melody element.

The first time I played this was on a long car journey and I was taken with the clarity of the production and the way that the band can seamlessly move from one musical idea to another. There is quite a strong jazz element, and is outside of the 'normal' prog scene, which cannot be a bad thing. This is an interesting album that also contains their cover of PFM's "Altaloma" that was missing from the original release. Worth hearing.

Originally appeared in Feedback #64, Dec 01