ZARATHUSTRA'S REVENGE

As a huge fan of the Seventies Italian Prog I was very curious to this lavishly packaged 4-CD box set. It took a while before I got the opportunity to listen to it but last week I could borrow if from my friend from Progwalhalla. The list of bands features many known and lesser known groups, from the Finnish Sea Reach & Friends, the USA bands Fonya and Strange New Toys and Japanese Gerard and Ars Nova to the Italian Hostsonaten, Finisterre, Mad Crayon, Blondie Fox, Moongarden and Eftus, quite a varied musical company! Most of the bands that were covered I know like Le Orme, Banco, PFM, Museo Rosenbach, Celeste and Nomadi but some sound less familiar like Alan Sorrenti, Fortis, Protici and Claudio Rocchi. I couldn't even trace some of these names in the wonderful, just re-released book/CD Rock Progressivo Italiano (by Barotto/D'Ubaldo) so you can conclude that the producers have done their best to present a comprehensive group of ancient and current bands! In general the level of the bands is decent, let's start my musical analysis CD by CD.

CD-1: The formation Sea Reach & Friends deliver a tasteful rendition (pleasant organ and acoustic guitar work and warm vocals) of Celeste their song Principe Di Un Giorno, Hostsonaten sound beautiful (sensitive electric guitar and fluent organ play) in Vorrei Incontrari by Alan Sorrenti, Fonya plays inspired during a PFM medley (cheerful Minimoog flights and raw, propulsive guitar riffs), Avarta sounds Eastern (with violin and tablas) in Mauro Pagani's song Europa Minor and Finisterre does a fine job with PFM their track Alta Loma Five Till Nine (bluesy guitar and a moving organ solo).

CD-2: A lot of variety, the trademark of the Seventies Italian Prog! My highlights are Trama with Profuma Di Colla Bianca by Locanda Delle Fate (strong female vocals and wonderful Hackett inspired guitar play) and Iconae with U.F.D.E.M. by Jacula (majestic church organ sound, theatrical female vocals and intense violin play).

CD-3: This is my favorite disc in this box set, especially because of the Italian Rock Session Band (great renditions from songs by New Trolls and Il Balletto Di Bronzo) and the Japanese keyboard wizards from Gerard (La Conquista .. by Banco) and Ars Nova (Epilogo by Il Balletto Di Bronzo). I also enjoyed Strange New Toys with Snip-Snap by Goblin (swinging clavinet, fiery guitar and pleasant synthesizer runs). But I was very disappointed about the versions of the legendary compositions Felona E Sorona (Le Orme) by Algebra (the screamy saxophone doesn't fit in this song in my opinion) and Zarathustra (Museo Rosenbach) by Mouse (too much avant-garde).

CD-4: To me this disc sounds the least captivating, to start with the punk version of Il Balletto Di Bronzo their song Neve Calda by Blondie Fox, horrible! Only Italian bands H2O with C'E Un Paese Al Mondo by Maxophone (sumptuous keyboards and sensitive guitar) and Moongarden with There Will Be Time by Osanna (beautiful keyboards and strong guitar work) manage to excite me.

Despite some weaker moments, in general this 4-CD set has a lot to offer and I am pleased with the often creative ways the new bands offer their renditions of the Seventies Italian Prog bands. A dood effort but to me it doesn't sound as excellent or essential.