LA TERRA DEI GRANDI OCCHI

Hahaha ! Everytime I listen to the opening title track of this debut album, I cannot help giggling to myself uncontrollably! It sort of reminds me the rather puerile debates about who was the "fastest" guitarist, Alvin Lee, Carlos Santana in the 70s and later between Vai and Satriani, pfff! As if speed mattered! Here, Rinaldo Doro does a Mach 5 velocity synth solo that verges on the near ridiculous, making Wakeman, Emerson and Nolan look like lethargic snails. The fact that this epic track also has some slithering bass lines, cascading mellotron washes, furious drumming and some lovely vocals only adds to the thrill. Truth is I am a big bass guitar fetishist (as some may know by now) and I simply find myself enthralled when the propulsive technique punches ferociously as Enzo Martin does on the entire album. "Non Ci Credo Piu" is a typical ISP track with passionate Italian language vocals, great keyboard playing but literally highlighted by those incredible bass runs. The simmering guitar solo is no "shab" job either! "Lunario" offers immediate respite from the instrumental pyrotechnics as it waltzes unashamed, with a more grandiose slant, thick arrangements verging on more conventional folk themes, with a slick variety of ivories in the arsenal , all mastered by the nimble fingers of Rinaldo! A muted axe solo from Mario Guadagnin leaves a pleasant afterglow. "Pensieri Affascinanti" is another lengthy marathon where singer Massimo Berruti gets to expand gently on the flowing theme, liberating the superlative Hammond M3 organ work and the multifarious guitar explorations that rule the show, proving clearly that these lads can play with the best of them. The finale is grand pomposity incarnate, thick slabs of arrogant symphonic pretense, with lightning hyper-soloing. Bless 'em for they have sinned! Oddly, "Passi Dentro il Tempo" is nothing special, aside from a hunting guitar rampage that elevates the passion. We finally get some release from all the haste with "Avalon", a breezy little affair, with twanging 12 string acoustic, rotund bass, torrents of mellotron, all held together by a plaintive vocal. "L'Anima del Cielo" sends a more atmospheric message, a dreamy concoction with luxuriant keyboards, fluid guitar and that confounded up-front bass guitar! As usual with ISP, the drumming is superb, courtesy of Gianni Catalano. The brief "Mellotronmania" speaks for itself, putting an indelible symphonic stamp on the deal. Yeah, this is 70s style prog made in 1992 but there is certainly nothing wrong with that , it was a golden era in Italy and a huge standard for the future of Prog. The famed Beppe Crovella of Arti+ Mestieri fame produces this record, adding some musical audacity to the proceedings.This is not a masterpiece but rather a good enjoyable recording by above par musicians. Love that bass though! 4 Big Eyes