PAESAGGIO SOLARE (ESTATE 1972)

The story of this Italian trio started in the late Nineties when Luca Harb (guitars, synthesizers and piano) and Giampaolo Cavallo (electric bass and orchestrations) founded the formation Unyou. Between 1999 to 2004 this band gigged extensively in and around Milan and released two demos and an E.P. that were highly praised and critically acclaimed by the national musical press. They later moved to London, initially founding the band Zen State (active from 2005 to 2006). Giampaolo his brother Silvio played guitar and drums in several local bands. He developed a deep interest and passion for Italian Progressive Rock and collected a considerable number of albums released in the golden years between 1970 and 1977. In January 2008 these three musicians gathered in Room 16 Studios, in London, listening to the all-time classics from Silvio's collection and getting the right inspiration to write and record Il Cielo In Un Ruscello, this turned out to be Il Ruscello's very first song, it aroused the interest of Matthias Scheller, head of the AMS-Vinyl Magic record label and 'progressive rock connoisseur extraordinaire'. In the autumn of that year Silvio moved to London and the band rapidly wrote and recorded tracks that became Il Ruscello's first album, entitled Paesaggio Ssolare (Estate 1972. The album was released in September 2009 by the Italian progrock label AMS-Vinyl Magic Records.

Il Ruscello their debut album sounds very melodic and harmonic, the interplay between the guitars, keyboards (very varied and subtle colouring) and rhythm-section is wonderful. And it creates many pleasant atmospheres:

swinging and mid-tempo rhythms with powerful electric guitar runs and fluent synthesizer flights

dreamy with tender Grand piano, twanging acoustic guitar and the distinctive sound of the string-ensemble (like in Il Cielo In Un Ruscello and Il Risveglio Di Una Citta)

soaring Hammond waves, topped by fine Italian vocals (between Le Orme and Il Balletto Di Bronzo but not that level).

Bands that come to my mind are often Le Orme but also PFM, Il Balletto Di Bronzo and I Dik Dik. Remarkably is the difference between the first five tracks and the final composition Orizzonti that sounds way more adventurous and elaborate than the rest. First a swinging rhythm with catchy interplay between a rocky guitar, fat Emersonian synthesizer runs and a propulsive rhythm-section. Then fiery guitar work and inspired Italian vocals, followed by twanging acoustic guitar and delicate string-ensemble layers. Halfway a part with a fluent rhythm and strong solos on guitar and synthesizer. And in the end an avant-garde-like organ solo, pretty experimental in comparison with most of the material on this captivating tribute to the Classic Italian Prog.

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