TAKE OFF

Interesting is what we have here. There are two collaborators' completely different views about this album's originality. Unique or faceless? I would definitely adhere with former view. True, timeless synthesizer music masterpieces have been recorded before, but Sangiuliano, in his sole album does it in his own way. First, composition is very much Classically influenced. Second, it is for the most part very energetic. Third, this is a Mellotron feast! And last (but not least), there is some truly delightfully magic vocal and grand piano parts.

First piece, "Time Control" is the longest. It's an epic, clocking up to 16 and half minutes. After quiet intro, it builds up for several minutes and then strong and beautiful female operatic vocal improvisations set very claustrophobic atmosphere. After the short cadence and beautiful soft piano passages Mellotron comes to the front. It, with some sequences, dominates the middle portion of the track. My favourite portion starts at app. 9:30 mark, when again quiet Mellotron theme builds up and eventually some short but frantic piano overlays it and female vocals return again? What a bliss! After this some dissonant and melodic passages interchange and at the end the music is swallowed buy some noisy sequence. The way the piece is composed reminds me more of Classical concertos than prior Teutonic way of creating electronic music.

"Saffo's Gardens" is the shortest piece on album (it's still 7:30) and starts with beautiful piano intro over synthesized background. Piano is followed by a beautiful harpsichord melody until quite unexpectedly synths become louder and drums kick in. Music often changes between peaceful and frantic, but somehow always stays lyrical. Piano and harpsichord work fascinates me most on this piece. While not playing leading role (nothing can take it away form mighty Mellotron), both add small but very beautiful details to music, taking them to another level. I find this piece (an in the lesser extent following one) quite close to general RPI aesthetic.

Third is the albums title track, "Take Off". Atmosphere is similar to "Saffo's Gardens", but "Take Off" features more active playing on synthesizers and drums. Also there are some heaviest synth / Mellotron layers on album, creating quite massive sound. There's an quiet, beautiful interlude in the second half of the track, which again leads to energetic and dramatic end with countdown and boom? Takeoff noise!

What else can be said? I was fortunate to come across this album in the start of both my Prog Electronic and RPI journeys and this "crossover" album really ignited in me the zeal of exploring these two different progressive roads. There are couple of Italian electronic albums aesthetically close to "Take Off". If you like it, I'd recommend you Francesco Buccheri's "Journey", Franco Leprino's "Integrati... Disintegrati" and Roberto Cacciapaglia's "Sonanze", as all of these are under heavy influence of Classical music and feature many beautiful melodies and acoustic instruments. We can say that yes, there was considerable Electronic movement in Italy, which went beyond simple cloning of their better-known German and French colleagues. They had their own way, full of lyricism, beauty and passion.

As for "Take Off", I think it is a masterpiece. Hence, 5 stars.