PASSIO SECUNDUM MATTHEUM

This is a very interesting listen. It is difficult to instantly love this album even for a veteran prog fan. Musically this record is great but the factors that let it down come in the sound quality and mixing of the record. First of all the mixing - There is some very peculiar use of panning all through the album but the most distracting is that of the Kick drum being in the right channel all through the album making some moments almost unlistenable. The way the narrative part of the album is mixed also breaks the atmosphere at times, especially during Il Giornio Degli Azzimi when the acoustic guitar is building atmosphere the voice totally overwhelms it which destroys a great moment. A narrater on an album can be a make or break thing if used incorrectly. I do find it to be used at some inappropriate moments in the music sometimes but only very occasionally. The music itself contains very strong Classical and Jazz influences which remain prominent all through. The first half of the album is pure symphonic prog in the style of a real orchestra with operatic vocals and virtuoso playing and great use of the mellotron. The second half is avant/garde jazz for the most part with fantastic piano and guitar playing leading up to a finale of pure symphonic bliss with mellotron guitar and vocals bringing real emotion out.

This album could be a 5 star but the poor sound and youthful inexperience of the clearly talented band members leaves you thinking of the potential they have which could have brought so much more to this album.