BALENE

« Cantina Sociale » is one of these Italian bands from the noughties who are trying to modernize the ISP genre but who are strongly capitalizing on the sound from the seventies.

The model here is definitely KC. "Cantina Sociale" plays music between jazz and symphonic prog. What I like the most of their sound is of course the extensive mellotron play which is vastly used during the whole of this album.

This being said, this work is no big deal, really: lack of passion, of melodic brilliantness, of great solo, of fine compositions. It is just a succession of well performed items featuring sweet vocals for most of them. But that's not enough to make a good album.

I far much prefer a band like "La Maschera Di Cera" in the register of more recent Italian bands. But I guess that all tastes are in nature. I can't go over two stars for this album. No real highlight at all. Just average music; but well performed.