SCOGLI DI SABBIA

The Italian five piece band Germinale delivers a compilation CD featuring previously unreleased songs (1998), tributes and live tracks (2002). The four songs from 1998 sound melodic, fluent and tastefully coloured with piano, guitar and frequent flute work, the climates change from dreamy and moving to catchy mid-tempo. The female vocals are decent but I miss the typical Italian emotion. Then 3 tributes: first The Knife from Genesis (some nice musical ideas but not really captivating), Wond'ring Aloud from Jethro Tull (mellow with wonderful flute play) and Dr. Diamond from King Crimson (delicate howling electric guitar), then the composition La Battaglia Per Il Samp (from the Finnish progrock project Kalevala): alternating and dynamic with sensitive electric guitar and pleasant flute work. The final part of this CD contains live material from 2002: in general Germinale sounds warm with fine interplay between acoustic - and electric guitar, flute and piano. To me it often sounds a bit too subdued but if you like mellow and romantic prog, this is a fine CD.