FORSE LE LUCCIOLE NON SI AMANO PIÙ

When I got my first LOCANDA DELLE FATE (Inn of the Fairies) release which was precisely "Forse le Lucciole non si Amano Più" (Maybe the Fireflies don't love any more) and due to the reviews I read in Prog Archives, I was expecting a typical Italian band with strong GENESIS influence.

Because I'm a huge fan of the Charterhouse School guys, searched for the classical sound, but to be honest I found absolutely no connection between LOCANDA DELLE FATE and GENESIS, so I re-read all the reviews and saw how YES or GENTLE GIANT were also mentioned, again couldn't find a single similarity or influence with any of the usual suspects, not even with the Italian Symphonic bands (Except for the language of course), but instead of disappointing me, this uniqueness made me respect them more, the music is so beautiful and original, that this guys have to be the real deal.

In first place, and despite the band counts with two keyboardists with two Hammond organs, the emphasis is placed in our old friend the piano, yes it's true that they have spectacular synth sections, but the piano is the instrument which carries the weight of the music, unlike any British pioneer and very few Italian Symphonic bands who enjoy the pomp and spectacularity of the Moog or the haunting beauty of the Mellotron instead of the acoustic sound of the Grand Piano.

Then I read that the vocals are similar to the ones by Francesco di Giacomo.....Sorry, but Leonardo Sasso has a totally different range, even when is obvious that the man has studied music, his voice is lower and raspier than BANCO'S virtuoso vocalist, but at the same time stronger and much more emphatic, ideal to play dramatic material.

But lets go to the music (please take care with the translations, most of them are literal because my Italian is rusty), "A Volta di un Instante di Quiete" (After an instant of silence) is a strong and brilliant opener, with strong Classical connections based in an impeccable piano performance and the pomp of Progressive Rock provided by the rest of the band. The flute works as a reliever between the initial and final vibrant passages, a magnificent opener that prepares the listener for great things.

The title song begins with an amazingly beautiful piano introduction that immediately links to a vocal passage where Leonardo Sasso makes a demonstration of energy and sensibility with his unusual range, but when everything seems soft, the drums and guitar announce a change. Without modifying the initial atmosphere, the instruments are added in a dance of sounds and moods, it's impressive how they add an almost Medieval flute to a Prog power ballad, absolutely heartbreaking.

Around the middle the band radically morphs into a frenetic passage where the keys add a strange Rock section at insane speed, just to return to the initial sound, .Special mention to Sasso, who provides all the power he's capable of working, the backing vocals create complex structures. Elaborate song with a beautiful melody.

If in the previous songs we could find beautiful melodies, "Profumo Di Colla Bianca" (Perfume of White Glue) is not the exception, the piano and vocals work as if both were a complex new instrument, one linked to the other as siamese twins, but because we are talking about a Prog band we can find elaborate guitar performances and sober drumming.

But despite all this excellent characteristics, what impresses me more of LOCANDA DELLE FATE is their sense of fluidity, the music flows gently from start to end in the only logical way it cans, any change could make them loose logic and coherence, but this contradictions never happen, everything is carefully crafted.

"Cercando Un Nuovo Confine" (Searching for a new Border) is the first time when I find some remote GENESIS influence in LOCANDA DELLE FATE, even when the song is so typically Italian in atmosphere, melody, instrumentation and vocals, Ezzio Vevy adds a Hackett touch in his guitar and a bit of Peter Gabriel in the flute, but not enough to consider it even a moderate influence, just a distant remembrance..

"Sogno di Estunno" (Dream of Summer Autumn) begins with a pastoral intro based in flute and keyboards but soon morphs into a strong vocal track with Leonardo Sasso providing a breathtaking performance. But the changes have to exist in this band, and as usual they jump to a Classical oriented passage with a brilliant piano and flute interplay, this time I find some ELP resemblance, but as usual it's only distant, because the sweetness of the music is hard to compare with any other band.

"Non Chiudere A Chiave Le Stelte" (Don't Lock the Stars) is a short and romantic acoustic interlude that links "Sogno di Estunno" with the powerful "Vendesi Saggezza" in which Leonardo Sasso gives one of his most memorable performances, adding not only his usual strength but also a sentimental touch unlike in any previous track.Even when the band moves from soft and melancholic mood to elaborate and complex musical passages, the voice remains as a constant. The final section is absolutely breathtaking and frantic adding a new sound to the song

The album ends with "New York" a strange song with a different vocalist that this time clearly reminds of GENESIS, even when less intricate and more fluid, good and unusual closer.

While writing this review I noticed a couple of things: LOCANDA DELLE FATE is a classical Italian band, with less complex arrangements than most bands of the region but obsessed with creating incredibly beautiful melodies and even when here's influence from some early Symphonic classics, this is more the logical consequence of two bands playing the same sub-genre, rather than one trying to sound like the other, because their music is absolutely unique, even for Italy.

The rating is clear for me, if we are talking about a unique album with no weak moments and outstanding music, I can't give them less than 5 stars.

An Essential masterpiece of Progressive Rock that deserves more recognition.than it gets.

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