IL FIUME

During their 1970s heyday, LE ORME was known to include a mellow, romantic, more acoustic based song as the second track, which contrasted well with a typically bombastic intro piece. If you ever wondered what a LE ORME album would sound like if it was more devoted to this style, then "Il Fiume" provides the answer, and I think it's the one you asked for.

This comeback album spotlights the powerful yet sensitive, almost classical voice of Aldo Tagliapietro and the riparian symbolism of the lyrical themes while leaving opportunities for the instrumentalists to shine. No better is this captured than on the sitar-enhanced "Madre Mia' and the fluid "Prima D'Acqua" respectively. The group's melodic instincts are fully expressed throughout, with other highlights of note being "Lungo Il Fiume", "Il Vecchio" and "Grande Acqua". These combine placid and more demonstrative passages effortlessly. For instrumental fireworks, it doesn't get better than the main theme, repeated several times but most forcefully on the closer, the final of the two title tracks. I had actually heard this as the intro to Le Orme's brilliant Progfest 1997 performance. "Chiesa D'Asfalto" is the only cut that is really in the vein of straightforward rock, and an inferior model at that.

For those who enjoy their RPI tilted towards lush ballads without loss of that "larger than life" significance, I recommend a float down this river with no particular destination in mind,