...DI TERRA

BANCO's modern instruments meld well with the classical orchestra on this modern classical (!) work. Picture yourself in a concert hall listening to 42 minutes of often laid-back orchestral pieces fused with synthesizer, organ, piano, electric piano, electric guitar, bass, saxaphone and trumpet. But don't get me wrong, some snippets display the usual frenetic BANCO style of music.

At times the music feels very classical, at others jazzy and other times pure electronic. Several of the pieces have stretches of repetitive note sequences and are a bit unimaginative in my opinion, but overall the music is good and, at times, very good (I particularly like 'Non Senza Dolore'). Some snippets remind me of an actual classical work or works but I can't put my finger on it - maybe it's Rimsky-Korsakov's Sheherazade. There is, though, still a recognisable BANCO style to the music, even if Francesco Di Giacomo isn't belting out his vocals on this instrumental album.

If you like classical orchestral music, jazz and symphonic rock then you should enjoy this album very much (preferably sitting in a comfortable armchair with a glass of Shiraz!).