FORSE LE LUCCIOLE NON SI AMANO PIÙ

I remember reading a review of this album where the gent called it the worst kind of "elevator prog." He thought it very insipid and choking on sweetness. Or there's this gem that I just had to quote from a gent on another site because I thought it hilarious: "This is mainstream symphonic artrockish @#%!, with no intention of being progressive whatsoever. Just synth-washed faked happiness and sentimentality. This record alone could have started the punk revolution." [Tovan]

As you can see comparing that quote against all the 5-star reviews here, Forse is an album that generates strong feelings both ways. I'm somewhat in the middle. Let's take the positive first. This is without questions one of the most beautiful, melodic, pretty, lovely symphonic ear-candy albums you will ever hear. It is lush, well-produced, thoughtfully-arranged, impeccably sung and played, near perfect from an execution standpoint. The first two tracks are simply two of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard from any band. Did I mention melody? It's a keyboard lovers dream drenched with delicious runs of vintage keys recalling the finest English prog rock. The guitar playing is superb, a dual attack which I would describe as something between Howe and Hackett, with expert use of the volume-pedal pushing the leads to pure heaven. The vocals are among the warmest and most pleasant in the Italian genre, rich, deep, and enveloping. The percussion, especially in the opening track, is really super-controlled and perfect with a compressed tight sound. Sounding great, isn't it? But there's more to the picture than playing and execution. There's the material.

To speak to the complaints of the gent I quoted up top, I do see some problems with the material. The songs are a bit mushy, a bit cheesy, a bit sentimental. It is not particularly challenging. It lacks the fierce bite and daring bravado of the "most Italian-flavored" Italian classics from the prime 72-74 period, it lacks a bit of that authenticity, sounding more like stately English or German mid/late 70s symphonic. It's an album that starts very strong with the best songs towards the front and drags a bit on the second side. The mood of the songs have a sameness to them, mostly an uplifting new-agey vibe without any kind of darkness to provide some drama. This album is perhaps the polar opposite of France's "Arachnoid." This album is like being hugged by the good witch in the Wizard of Oz. None of this is really a deal breaker for me, I'm just saying that I can understand what the guy above is talking about even it I don't agree with him.

So the question of whether you should buy this is very simple. If you love quality happy melodic symphonic that will wrap you in pretty music, you simply cannot go wrong with Forse. Love Camel, Rousseau, Tai Phong, Druid? Then you'll probably eat this up. If however you are looking for difficult prog, or for the more authentic classic period Italian sound, or if you like darker themes, then Forse should be avoided. As I said I fall in the middle. I do like to listen to this pretty album on occasion but to me it falls well short of my favorite Italian albums. 3 ½ stars.

Share this LOCANDA DELLE FATE review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Finnforest
• Report this review (#142809)
• Buy LOCANDA DELLE FATE music online with PA partners
• Show all LOCANDA DELLE FATE MP3/Stream
• Go to LOCANDA DELLE FATE page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Più page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for LOCANDA DELLE FATE related discussions