RUMORE ROSSO

I must admit I had low expectations when I ran across an unlikely twenty dollar first pressing in a store. I knew these guys were associated with the 1979 tribute concert for Demetrio Stratos and were led by the guitarist from Arti e Mestieri in the form of a loose collective. But I expected a jazz fusion album that was a diluted form of Arti e Mestieri that would be pleasant at best and soporific at worst. What I got instead was one of my favorite Italian prog purchases of the last few months. I listened to both sides of this record for six days in a row, it was so engaging. I'd be driving home from work looking forward to throwing it on again. Instead of a uniform homogeneous fusion album, what we have is a widely varied look at prog through the eyes of a band that gets things done through subtlety instead of in your face blazing away. Rumore Rosso is a perfect mix of world music (not a negative), Italian prog and 70's fusion. Probably the quickest way to describe it is somewhere between Area and Brand X with a little tiny bit of early Phish sprinkled in a few places. Vocals are in a made up language, something that Stratos was no stranger to in his Area days. The album has a more acoustic ambience to it than the parent band, but there is a charm in the melodies that is just undeniable-this album makes you feel good, whether in the background or listened to very closely. From the lazy Return to Forever vibes of Coesioni to the final notes of Monti Di Idelogia, you are taken on an engaging ride through many varied musical styles. One of the few albums that every time I play it I'm genuinely sad that it finishes too early. If Area plus Brand X sounds good to you, go find this album immediately. Five stars.