STORIA MAI SCRITTA

Enzo Capuano released this mostly instrumental gem on a small label in the mid 1970s. Born in Calabria in 1947, Capuano is a talented guitarist and vocalist who would go on to perform outside the progressive realm for years to come. After this album Enzo would do some acting and have a career in the Chemistry field before returning to singing in the late '80s. Often written off by proggers who got the impression this was a strictly singer-songwriter affair it will surprise many who hear it. It's an interesting progressive album in the form of a long, connected instrumental suite combining some of the Italian folk traditions with a bit different approach than many of the other classic period Italian prog bands. Rather than the manic, wild, anything-goes approach of the day Enzo presents a more measured surface sound that finds its own way of sounding special.

The album's story is quite enchanting, Enzo himself revealed it to me in our interview: "Storia mai scritta is a suite. The idea for it came very easily to me: one evening I saw two young people in a pizzeria, and watched them while they were holding hands... It was clear that pizzeria was their habitual haunt, the home they were dreaming of, their nest of intimacy. She was already the mother of his children... He already felt responsible for the family they were dreaming of starting together... When I went back to the pizzeria, a few days later, I found it closed.... A notice on the door warned it had closed down for good, and that in the same premises a branch of a well-known bank would open. Through the shutters I could see the place where the two lovers had met, and then I started to think with their own minds, to imagine all they would have heard, said, decided... Perhaps that closure was the beginning of a new course for them... For me, it was the start of a new, lengthy song whose title was originally to be "La pizzeria". However, as I was developing that theme, the music became more and more narrative in nature, and the words slowly left their place to the melodies and blocks of rhythms and harmonies which make up the structure of Storia mai scritta... a story never written down in words, but rather through the atmospheres that only music can create."

"Storia Mai Scritta" takes a fairly unique approach with a blend of pastoral symphonic and prog-folk, sometimes reminding me of "Numbers" era Cat Stevens (sans vocals) but stretched out with much more space than Stevens pop approach. Other reviewers have made comparisons to Celeste and Reale Accademia di Musica and I can see why. Vocals occur only on the first and last tracks leaving the vast middle portion of the album instrumental. The other thing that makes the sound unique is the lack of electric guitars and bombast. It shoots for a more introspective approach with many mellow segments while still saving room for some punchy, louder, almost rocking parts. The original sound is obtained by creating a fabric of acoustic guitars (sometimes dual) mixed with synths/mellotron. Occasionally piano and Hammond are also used. The drumming is intermittent and fairly pedestrian but the sound is crisp and brings much energy while other kinds of percussion and sound effects come and go. In some longer and spacier sections it evolves from introspective and peaceful into a dynamic swirl of very good quality acoustic playing and keyboards, along with an active keyboard produced bass sound. Initially the album may sound too uneventful for some but repeated listenings will reveal the intricate arrangements and good melodies present throughout. Capuano sings and handles guitars and keys, backed by the late Mario Panseri also on keys and drummer Giovanni D'Aquila. This would sadly be another one-shot as far as Enzo's prog output but it is one worth owning for any fan of quality, dreamy progressive. It's a memorable album that is sadly overlooked. Get a copy of the Mellow Records CD MMP-286 while you still can. Yet another special thanks to Mauro Moroni for having the wisdom to make sure such an album saw the light of day. To read my full interview with Enzo go here: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=56116&FID=47

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