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FIABAProcessionRock Progressivo Italiano3.76 | 79 ratings |
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Finnforest
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Very enjoyable guitar/sax dominated album. Procession is another worthwhile classic Italian band releasing two albums in '72-'74. The first is a more hard rocking approach that listeners compare to De De Lind and New Trolls. Fiaba is the second and largely abandons that approach in favor of a more rounded symphonic sound with keys, flutes, sax, and plenty of acoustic guitar. There are still moments that rock but the sound is more varied, rock in some places, alternately jazzy or folksy in other sections. For Italian fans I would suggest they are somewhere between the sound of Era Di Acquario and Delirium. In several places their English influences do show through. "Uomini Di Beno" is an upbeat folk rocker with a briskly strummed acoustic backing a hard guitar solo right out of the gate. Great bass and drums. Vocals come right in trading off with a nice raw guitar sound. Nice flute counter melody opens up and then yields to some sax. Energetic opener that will give way to a more mellow sound starting with the second track. "Un Mondo Sprecato" begins with acoustic guitar, gentle vocals, and sax in a good melody. As usual the bass playing is enthusiastic and interesting. The guitar solo about half-way through has a real "howling" kind of sound and it is soon challenged by a rather hard-edged saxophone before the acoustic and mellotron soothe the nerves again. Gaza is a pleasant vocalist, not as overbearing as some and with good high range. "C'era Una Volta" has a jazzy feel with a long saxophone intro over just cymbals and bass. A rather sunny vocal and light electric solo over the acoustic follow in places can remind one of Jon Anderson. It gets all quiet with the exception of some bird sounds, followed by very some very gentle guitar in the distance. Unfortunately, the song ends with a poorly executed attempt to mimic the Clare Torry vocal performance on Great Gig in the Sky. Not the albums high point and surely will make you appreciate the original. "Nottorno" begins with a trippy section of flutes and cymbals over acoustic creating a moody feeling. This goes on for quite some time until the pace picks up with some spacey soloing-a very effective and patient track. "Il Volo Della Paura" starts very much like Era Di Acquario with nice acoustic guitar melody and a lighter New Trolls style vocal. Really nice electric solo in this one. "Fiaba" is pure symphonic bliss with mellotron, flutes, acoustic, lively bass and drums keeping things pumping. Fiaba is a well rounded and musically satisfying album that will certainly entertain you even if it doesn't make the top of your list. A fabulous painting on the gatefold mini-lp edition shows the band and orchestra traipsing up a hill for an apparent jam at a medieval castle. It may not be the most representative album of the Italian scene but I doubt this album will disappoint anyone looking for good music.
Finnforest |
3/5 |
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