LA BALLATA DEL VECCHIO MARINAIO

An Italian group from Forli, Una Volta Eravamo In Sette were formed in 2008 by Francesco Agnoletti (keyboards, electric guitar, vocals), Riccardo Fiorini (vocals, flute), Mattia Massa (electric and acoustic guitar, vocals), Fabrizio Piani (bass) and Mattia Flamigni (drums).They instantly focused on writing original music, based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem ''The rime of the ancient mariner''.Two years later they came up with the album ''La ballata del vecchio marinaio'', which was offered as a free download via the jamendo platform.

A beautiful album of modern Italian Prog and a great display of composing talent, quirky compositions and Italian lyricism, featuring elements spanning from the old years of Classic Italian Prog to modern sounds and sights.While there's not much to do with PANGEA's ''Invasori'', I would compare this album to the lost Italian gem because of its diversity, atmospheric depth and stylistical collage, which contains both psychedelic and folky parts blended with the standard love of Italians for Classical Music.Of course the sound of the band was not very retro-sounding, while there are occasional harder, guitar- oriented parts to be found plus you can add a dash of Fusion in the process.Lots of flute and piano, some delicate symphonic moments, oriental vibes on the opening ''Overture'' and great mixture of acoustic/elegant instrumentals and Medieval/Mediterrenean echoes with full-blown Prog, filled with breaks and changing tempos.I am surprised that such a concept is not dominated by lyrics, the vocals are quite limited to sentimental singing and narrations and the instrumental parts prevail in here with Jazz, Classical, Folk and Rock music meeting in different pairs.HOSTSONATEN might be the best comparison, the Zuffanti project, which loved to combine atmospheric segments with a complex instrumental edge.The guitars have more of a Heavy/Psych meet Post Rock color, but all the rest come from the aforementioned styles with a vast palette of climates completing a great little pearl.

Mattia Flamigni quit from the band in 2012 and I am pretty unsure he was ever replaced.The facebook page of the band does not leave promise for future activities.Fortunately this nice work is free downloadable and anyone in love with the more flexible side of Italian Prog should track this down.Strongly recommended, a very talented band with some true potential, apparently we will never find out if they would ever come up with an even better second record...3.5 stars.