ZARATHUSTRA

A milestone RPI album, Museo Rosenbach's "Zarathustra" is brimming over with innovation and inventiveness with some extraordinary compositions and musicianship. The epic title track is a mesmirising masterpiece beginning with quiet reflective vocals in Italian and some weird music until the percussion cracks through and an uptempo sound is heard awash with Mellotron. There are 5 distinct sections to this colossal epic including a gentle piano passage, and flute that floats along a sustained shimmering keyboard motif. The buzzing low synth is heard at about 6 minutes in, and more of the vocals in the distance. Eventually a fast paced rhythm bursts forth and much more aggressive vox and keyboard lines. The 'Superuomo' segment is where I get most interested with its quirky vocals and Hammond lines over strong percussion attacks.

The Mellotron takes over on the next track 'Degli uomini' that is at first instrumental. It has a smooth texture of organ and heavy guitar with percussion blasts. It changes in mood as the piece develops. The lead guitar is a dominant feature, and it has some grinding organ sounding like Procol Harum in places or Focus. Vocals finally join the sound just before it all goes quiet.

'Della natura' is a faster piece with odd meters and frenetic organ shimmers. The vocals are again Italian and rather gentle coming in when the music dies down. A great polyrhythmic meter locks in as Mellotron bellows out over powerhouse drumming and bass motifs. The rhythms increase in pace and break away as more vocals blaze away, and then chiming vibes are heard on organ, sounding like Manzarek's style of The Doors. It is a dramatic song in every respect, with lots of twists and turns and definitely one of the highlights.

The last track is 'Dell'eterno ritorno', a heavy guitar driven rocker, with some chaotic figures on keyboards, bass and percussion. It is a grand way to end such a classic album, going out with a bang not a whimper. It settles into a dreamy section and the vocals are multi tracked and emotional. Eventually it returns to the spasmodic fractured melody and then a striking percussive march over an organ phrase.

This one really lives up to its massive reputation as yet another one shot album that blows the doors off conventional musicianship. It is up there with Dun's "Eros", Anglagard's "Hybris", Bubu's "Anabelas" and Yezda Urfa's self titled debut. Check it out even if you are not into jazz, as this album has a lot going on and is well worth the effort.