SUBSIDEA

Today I noticed that my amount of Italian Symphonic Prog reviews is 99 so I started to work on # 100, it's the only category I can easily compete with neighbour 'Super-Sean'! I have chosen for Contrapunto, this means that an Italian band on a Brasilian label is reviewed by a Dutchman on a Canadian progrock site, music unites! Contrapunto is from the city Turin, known because of their legendary football club Juventus. The nine compositions on their first album (1999) contain a fresh and modern sound with lots of captivating breaks. All musicians present themselves in a very pleasant and crafted way: good female English vocals (with hints from Tracey Hitchings), a guitarist who plays very alternating (from sensitive soli to heavy riffs), a keyboardist with a lush sound and flashy runs and a tight rhythm-section. Some tracks evoke Collins-era Genesis but in general Contrappunto makes quite original prog that grows every turn. The final song Bad Choice is a funny one with disco-like rhythm guitar and a jazzy piano. A promising debut CD.

Italian band led by keyboardist Andrea Cavallo.Andrea was also the vocalist of the band in the beginnings back in 1995,which started as a quartet in Torino,where the band succeeded some radio airplay.Soon the original guitarist would leave the band to be replaced by Sebastiano Di Paola and female singer Sara Arrigone,so that Andrea had plenty of space to focus on his keyboard work.Contrappunto recorded two demos,''Soundscapes'' and ''Mini mood'',performed intensively around the Piemonte area,thus giving birth to their debut ''Subsidea'' in 1998 on Progressive Rock Worldwide.

The album is a mix of keyboard-driven modern Symphonic Rock with Electronic hints here and there,filled with long instrumental passages,Classical piano-centered references and crystalline vocals by Sara Arrigone (with English lyrics all the way).''Subsidea'' balances constantly between an aggressive face with heavy guitar playing and vocal-based soft passages with piano lines,between melodic, dreamy passages and complex parts with a bombastic sound,between furious catchy grooves and technical soloing.The compositions are on a good level with a good blending of symphonic arrangements and rock aesthetics.The floating synths of Carvallo are great,not to speak of his compositional skills,the solos and riffs of Di Paola are more than decent and Sara prooves to be a fine singer with no mistakes.Italian compatriots PRESENCE are a good comparison.

''Subsidea'' was a nice entrance for Contrappunto in prog discography.While the album has not really anything new to add to the subgenre,it remains a great and pleasant listening for anyone into the Symphonic Rock sound or for die-hard keyboard fanatics.Recommended.