IL MANUALE DEI PICCOLI DISCORSI

From the small city of Ortona hails this nice Italian group, established in 1988 by keyboardist Fabiano Cudazzo, guitarist/singer Fabrizio Pellicciaro and guitarist Marco Anselone.They started as a cover band of British Prog groups like Jethro Tull, King Crimson and Genesis, finding their new drummer in 1993 in the face of Maurizio Di Tollo and two years later bassist Salvatore Marchesani joined the band.The last to enter the picture was flutist Luca Latini.With the the help of another bassist, Giuliano Torelli, they released their self-released debut ''Il Manuale dei piccoli discorsi'' in 2001.

With a very retro-sounding style, Distillerie di Malto pay a tribute to the Classic Prog bands of the 70's, coming both from the U.K. and their homecountry, in five long and complex compositions.Actually the first pair of tracks are also sung in English with a very KING CRIMSON-like sound supported by mascular synthesizers and dominating organ runs, next to the reasonable complicated guitar parts.The delicate melodies, piano interludes and flute lines though are more of the Italian school of Progressive Rock aka PFM and BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO.Very dense, professionally executed and intricate material with jazzy and symphonic underlines.The same mood, albeit in a smoother style, appears in the excellent instrumental ''Melodia di fine autunno'', which has a very CAMEL-like ending section with a nice combination of synths and guitars.Italian vocals appear for the first time in ''Aria e vento'', which is very close to other Italian Retro Prog groups such as CONSORZIO ACQUA POTABILE, SITHONIA and NOTABENE.Dramatic semi-symphonic Progressive Rock with endless changing tempos and plenty of thematic shifts, based on jazzy guitar interludes, evident Classical influences and powerful keyboard parts, performed in organ and synths.The closest it gets to BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO and similar sounding Italian acts of the past.''5/5/1555'' is a perfect example of how Progressive Rock can be melodic and captivating at the same time.Atmospheric music, this time with more obvious folky touches, changing between laid-back passages, frenetic synth exercises, rural flute-based textures and grandiose guitar solos.Absolutely great.

Fabulous album from the land of prog miracles.Challenging and rich Symphonic Rock/Fusion with numerous instrumental highlights.Absolutely recommended.