QUADRI DI UN'ESPOSIZIONE

While working on a second album, Murple became aware of the fact that their label BASF wanted an album per year by the band, an exhausting asking that led to instability between the members and the final demise of the group.Most of them remained involved in the music industry as teachers, musicians or producers in the following years.As with many obscure groups, Murple came again on surface through the various reissues of their sole album and the interviews following these releases.Eventually three of the four members, Piercarlo Zanco, Mario Garbarino and Duilio Sorrenti reunited in 2007 and decided to work on a second Murple work after 33 years.This was recorded at the Grop Studio in Roma, helped by Sabrina Gagliardi on vocals and Edoardo Massimi on guitar, released in 2008 on BTF under the title ''Quadri di un'esposizione'' (''Pictures at an exhibition'').

Seems like it hasn't past a year from ''Io sono Murple'' while listening to the album.Murple are in a very good shape, up-to-date with the current technologies around Prog Rock, but overall having a very nostalgic feeling regarding their music, which is pretty romantic, sensitive but also fairly symphonic with lush, well-executed arrangements.While the tracks are not particularly long (as the whole album is less than 34 minutes long), there are plenty of changes and different moods in each, starting from retro-inspired acoustic movements and emotional, lyrical textures and reaching the territories of keyboard-based Italian Prog with some good synth and organ acrobatics and a few impressive orchestral preludes.Lots of instrumental variations with dual keyboards recall more modern bands such as TAPROBAN and LA TORRE DELL'ALCHIMISTA.The atmosphere is trully great as a whole, somewhat lowered by an average production, and the group has given huge space to its instrumental skills than to its vocal delivery.The result is a beautiful Italian Prog album, typical example of a creation by veterans of the scene, with melodic and atmospheric soundscapes.

A nice comeback of a talented group.Do not get much closer to Classic-styled Italian Prog than this, although do not expect furious interplays or hard riffs.Expect though some delicate and attractive keyboard-driven musicianship of a melodic, symphonic nature.Warmly recommended.