PARADISO

Two members survived these thirty-two years between "Infierno" and "Paradiso". Davide and Enrico. The core of the band.

I have to agree that Davide sounds extremely passionate on this album. Better than on their previous works to be honest. This album also sounds more "Italian", less jazzy which is of course fine with me.

Some delicate and classical piano, suddenly replaced with moog ("Cielo Di Mercurio") makes this album quite varied. Of course, these moog sounds reminds ELP instantaneously but they are always pleasant, aren't they?

And it goes on with this interchange. Just a pity that there aren't more vocals because Davide was really in a good shape while recording this album. The only minus point would probably be that several songs are just average, placed there to allow this album to be sufficiently long enough. Such as "Cielo Di Venere" for instance.

I was not really expecting anything great from the band after all those years, but unlike some other great old Italian bands ("Locanda Delle Fate" amongst others), they did manage to come back with a good album. Not a great one (but none of them were masterpieces IMHHO).

"Paradiso" is a good album with emotional, bombastic passages ("Cielo Di Marte" which is one of my favourite song). Other tracks are less interesting like "Cielo Di Saturno" which sounds more as a part of "The Phantom Of The Opera" than Italian prog music.

The highlight of this work is the closing track. La Chiesa Delle Stelle holds everything that an Italian prog fan should look to: passion, harmony, great keys, some organ church (why not) and last but not least: Passion (with a capital P). A great way to close this work.

Three stars.