INTORNO ALLA MIA CATTIVA EDUCAZIONE

Although the Italian band ALUSA FALLAX had formed in 1969 and stayed together for ten whole years, they only managed to release this one full album in 1974, however they did release a couple of less progressive singles a few years before. INTORNO ALLA MIA CATTIVA EDUCAZIONE (which means "about my bad education" is one spectacular one shot surprise from this band from Milan. Originally intended to be an opera of some sort, it evolved into a powerhouse of symphonic progressive rock with as many influences as time signature changes. They beauty of this album is that despite all of the complexities on board, it is first and foremost the magnificent melodies and hooks that are nurtured and placed on their pedestals and treated like royalty. This isn't one of those albums that takes countless listens to appreciate. It has the pop sensibilities to hook you instantly and the progginess to keep you coming back for more!

Although the major influences are of the Genesis inspired pastoral bands of their native Italy such as Banco, PFM, Quella Vecchia Locanda and Locanda Delle Fate, there exists tons of others that rear their heads in unexpected places. At times there are crazy outbursts like of Area. At the more rocking jazz-fusion moments they sound a bit like Osanna. There are even times when they break into Latin rhythms that are reminiscent of Santana. The music flows near flawlessly from start to finish and it is often hard to tell where one track ends and the other begins since they so seamlessly blend. Although this is so smooth and slickly melodic it could be just a bit too poppy for proggers and vice versa way to proggy for pop lovers, it is unique in the fact that as melodic as it is it makes full use of the fugue. The ease at which this band tackles the complexities and turns them into instantly accessible hooks is utterly amazing. If you look at the lineup you will notice that there are three brothers in this band with the last name Cirla.

If you seek Italian progressive rock that is stuffed to the gill with heavenly melodies that range from beautiful Tullish flute runs to classical piano rolls with sprinklings of saxophone jazz driven frenzies that morph into fuzzy guitar riffs and ELP keyboard solos and passionate Italian lyrics being belted out for the world to hear, then look no further than this beautiful little gem that is surprisingly too obscure. True that there were only 5000 copies upon first release but this album is readily available on CD at a decent price these days. ALUSA FALLAX only released one album but they managed to pack in several album's worth of ideas in one little package. Despite all the influences this still adds up to a very unique sounding album. Excellent! 4.5 rounded up