LUXADE

In 2002 I got the eponymous debut album from this promising Italian five piece band as a promo on a CD-R. I was delighted about the Seventies inspired sound (Banco, Museo Rosenbach, Metamorfosi), loaded with vintage keyboards like the Moog synthesizer, Hammond organ and Mellotron. Unfortunately the compositions turned out to be a bit too fragmentic, this band had to mature. After two studio - and one live CD here is the new album by La Maschera Di Cera and to start with my conclusion: THIS IS A MASTERPIECE! From the very first moment La Maschera Di Cera takes you away with dynamic, alternating and often very compelling compositions, drenched into the wonderful Seventies Italian progrock tradition: passionate Italian vocals, fluent and pleasant shifting moods, great build-ups and wonderful 'grand finales', often featuring choir - and violin-Mellotron eruptions and sensational synthesizer flights, GOOSE BUMPS! The musical variation is great and ranges from 12-string acoustic guitar and traverse flute to saxophone and a huge array of vintage keyboards (Mellotron, Hammond - and Crumar organ, harpsichord, Fender Rhodes piano and several synthesizers).

ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE NEW ITALIAN PROGROCK CD, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!