ECHI DI UN FUTURO PASSATO

Celeste were one of the first RPI bands I'd heard of but it wasn't until around 2010 that I got to hear PRINCIPE DI UN GIORNO when a temporary colleague on secondment from Rome brought me back a second hand copy on CD after a weekend at home (from the legendary Elastic Rock.) The early- Genesis inspired bucolic prog on that album is indispensable and I managed to get the AMS vinyl reissue a few years later, then added the two similarly-themed LPs IL RISVEGLIO DEL PRINCIPE and IL PRINCIPE DEL REGNO PERDUTO when they were released. I've bought the limited edition vinyl version of ECHI DI UN FUTURO PASSATO (Mellow Records MMLP114) which has only five tracks and a different running order to the CD. Side 1 is comprised of PIGMENTI (8'47), ASPETTI ASTRATTI (7'34) and CIRCONVOLUZIONI (7'54) and side 2 ATTESE SOTTESE (10'31) and SOTTILI ARMONIE (10'51). The difference in running order doesn't affect the listening satisfaction because there is no overall concept to the album, with each tune standing up on its own merits. Despite moments where Ciro Perrino's distinctive Mellotron bursts into life, the album comes across as sonically disparate from the three 'prince' albums, being jazzy throughout with a marked swing (I don't find this a problem.) The difference between the 'prince' albums and this release is underlined by a full-colour, satisfying almost Roger Dean-esque cover illustration.

The tunes are beautifully melodic with plenty of room for development and the musicianship, writing and production are all excellent throughout. I can't believe anyone who likes PRINCIPE DI UN GIORNO won't enjoy this release.

4.5 stars