GENERAZIONI / GENERATIONS

This is the third review for this album, and let me add some information: it's recorded live (without audience) by TWO different line-ups, three tracks by one and four by the other (the liner notes don't reveal which tracks). I feel a bit funny to give these details since CALLIOPE is a whole new acquaintance for me and I rely only on the liner notes of this CD. Sadly most of the text was in Italian which I haven't learned, but anyway I saw the year 1972 mentioned; probably the band was founded back then, even if the discography here starts a couple of decades later. The English text concerns the two line-ups, the original line-up and the "new generation" (hence the title) including young chaps born in 70s or even 80s. (If I remember right, the latter is listed here in the album info. I didn't do further research on previous albums.) I can't tell much difference in performances after listening the album through. Oh yes, and here's another crucial fact: the material on this album dates from the early days of the band, probably the 70s!

Now to the music. It can be compared to some of the big names of the classic era, both English (Yes, ELP, Genesis) and Italian (Le Orme, PFM), but with some Neo flavour à la Marillion or Pendragon. Retro keyboards are dominant and vocals are rather sparse. Melodies are soaring and at times bombastic but never over the top. In a word, delicious for a friend of old school prog. All of the seven tracks were pretty enjoyable if not very memorable or unique.

My biggest complaint is about the sound quality, which is rather blurry. But still well worth listening.

To write down what happened over the next years regarding the Calliope line-up would be close to pointless.Older and new members came and go constantly between 1995 and 2001 and the only stable piece was keyboardist Enrico Perrucci.Finally the band were close to finding a more solid core in 2002, performing two concerts in 2002.In October of the same year Calliope released ''Generazioni'' on Electromantic, an album like a bridge between their old and more recent days.

This is actually close to a compilation album, with four old tracks performed live by the 1993 line-up and another three classic pieces performed live by the most recent 2002 incarnation.All of them are included in the first couple of Calliope releases, except '' Luci ed Ombre'', which is a never published old track of the band.

The first performance was caught live at at Garibaldi Settimo Torinese in December 1993 with the line-up of Enzo Martin, Mario Guadagnin, Gianni Catalano, Massimo Berruti and Enrico Perrucci.And while the first two Calliope albums are not exactly classics of Italian Prog, these live editions have much more to offer.All the hidden energy of the group is now displayed live, offering impressive Classic-styled Italian Prog with influences from BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO, AREA, PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI or IL BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO, combining symphonic arrangements with more typical Heavy Rock grooves.Perrucci's performs on organ, Mellotron, synths and piano with comfort, the rhythm section is a beast, the guitars are dominant and Berruti's voice might be the best ever offered in a Calliope line-up.Fantastic fast-paced compositions with tons of interplays, hard-edged rhythmic parts, technical twists and turns but also plenty of sensitive, laid-back moments and inspiring melodies, which somehoe had lost their full potential on the normal albums, but now are delivered with incredible passion and huge energy.Absolutely enjoyable and professional Italian Prog.

The three closing tracks come from a performance of the new Calliope in June 2002 at the Electromantic Synergy Studio of Beppe Crovella.As aforementioned Perrucci is the only remaining member of the 93' line-up and he is accompanied by Alessandro Amato on vocals, Flaviano Sciarpa on drums, Francesco Lannocca on guitars and Andrea Crovagna on bass.These three tracks are again fairly symphonic with very tight performances by the new members, maybe offered with a more Neo Prog-ish flavor due to the heavier use of synthesizers.The sound though is strongly rooted in Classic Italian Prog, with the new singer having a strong and expressive voice, which is more than welcome.The melodies are absolutely fascinating, the interplays are now smoother but more than awesome, the atmosphere is more dreamy and ethereal, but the musicianship is still strong, passionate and dynamic all the way.Good synth runs, lovely guitar solos and measured but energetic organ moves comprise for another line of well-crafted Italian Prog-flavored pieces of music.

However Calliope remained unlucky with the line-up shakes and Perrucci had to face series of endless changes in the upcoming years, trying to keep the spirit of the group alive.Fortunately this talented act will show up sometime again in the future.

Considering ''Generazioni'', this has to be one of the most underrated albums of new Italian Prog and definitely among the best compilations to come out from a less known Prog act.Certainly your starting point regarding Calliope's discography and a must-have album for all fans of Italian, Symphonic, Heavy and Neo Prog.Highly recommended.