MAXOPHONE

Yeah! Another shining star from the HUGE Italian 1970s progrock scenario! I assure you that the high ratings I usually give to the Italian albums are due to the own merits of these great pieces of art! Maxophone were one of those mythic "one-shot- bands", formed in 1973 as a six-piece with an unusual assortment of instruments, due to their past experience as music students. When the band started rehearsing it became apparent that they were influenced by many genres: a captivating mix between symphonic-rock, classical music, swing, jazz, traditional Italian (regional) music with harp, French horn, classic guitars, saxophone, flute, piano, keyboards, organ, clarinet, trumpet, horn, vibraphone, string quartet, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and percussions: a very good menu for every good genuine progrock lover!

C'è un Paese al Mondo (there's a country in the world): nice and soft piano opening shifting into a short rock prelude of electric guitar, bass and drums fading then into another soft and warm tempo that prepares the listener to the good vocals of Alberto Ravasini. Clarinet storms into at the middle of the track, then trumpet and horns.then again electric guitar and a chorus singing! Each track of the Maxophone album follows the complexity of the opener track.

Fase (instrumental), in particular, which opens with a more harder vein than the previous one. Good jazzy saxophone mixed to a prog symphonic mood.then "burst" a wonderful, delicate and precise vibraphone before the return of the good electric guitar riff! Then horns again, flute and guitars.it seems to be at an exciting match with your favourite team!

Al Mancato Completamento di una Farfalla (At the Missed Completement of a Butterfly)is another favourite of mine from Maxophone all the album is a must have). A JT-looking like flute intro fading to soft vocals. Then, the second part of the track starts with a strong keyboard sound with more symphonic style and great personality!

Mercanti di Pazzie (Merchants of Madnesses) is marvellous.imagine a soft harp sound.some "crazy" lyrics (somehow non-sense experiment). Then the flute appears behind voices.it reminds me of Jethro Tull's animals-cycle (Chateau d'Isaster Tapes). Then the harp again.some soft synths-noises, ambient sound fading out.

Elzeviro.what I could say more about this other excellent track? "They've beated me, six to one.", that's the lyrics opening.then swing mixed to other symphonic vein and chorus singing.electric guitar, "piano-carpet".the song speaks by itself, just listen to it! No one can be really disappointed!

The closer of the album is Antiche Conclusioni Negre (Ancient Negroes Conclusions). ".I do have poetry inside of me.my owner saw me there at the market.she saw me naked, she pointed me.new man moves without fears.". Good and deep lyrics, excellent the arrangements too!

The Akarma-label remastered cd makes the gift of two bonus tracks: Il Fischio del Vapore (Boat's Wistle) and Cono di Gelato (Ice Cream's Cone), two singles released in 1977, just before band splitting, because of the failure of their label.this is the official reason. why they didn't reach the success they'd deserve? The question remains without answer.

My evaluation.absolutely natural!

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