ABBIAMO TUTTI UN BLUES DA PIANGERE

4.5 stars. What a pleasant surprise this turned out to be. I really like the atmosphere and experimental passages that bring WEATHER REPORT to mind but the similarities to that band end there.The guitar is outstanding and there are some good vocals as well on this album.

"Non C'e Tempo Da Perdere" opens with barely audible piano that builds as cymbals clash and vocals come in. Sax follows and then guitar all the while the piano and drums seem to be playing random almost dissonant notes and patterns. It stops completely as a new melody comes in at 4 minutes with vocals. Love the guitar before 5 minutes as piano and drums play on. A great opener. "Deja Vu" opens with piano as dissonant sax comes in. A new melody arrives a minute in with piano and sax leading the way in this mellow soundscape. It's dissonant 2 1/2 minutes in followed by piano, sax and vocals this time. Dissonant again late. "Rituale" opens with what sounds like shakers and percussion. Bass before 1 1/2 minutes is good. Piano joins in and we get a fuller sound after 2 minutes as sax joins in then guitar. So much going on here. Fantastic ! It settles after 5 1/2 minutes with some nice drum work followed by sax. "Abbiamo Tutti Un Blues Da Piangere" opens with some intricate acoustic guitar melodies as bass joins in. A melancholic mood is the result. Drums after 3 minutes then sax and piano. Nice. No awesome !

"Country" opens with those liquid keys before sax arrives after a minute. Sax and piano leads the way before 2 minutes. "Nadir" is the only song that the bass player didn't have a hand in composing. The keyboardist did this one. Electric piano to start then sax after a minute. Guitar 2 minutes in adds to the sound. "Vento, Pioggia E Sole" is the final track and my favourite, the longest as well pushing 10 minutes. Experimental sounds to open then dissonant sax before drums then piano then guitar follow. Very cool. The sax blasts away then guitar lets it rip after 3 minutes. Sax after 4 1/2 minutes as piano plays on. The sax is just wailing away 6 minutes in. The guitar is back 6 1/2 minutes in. Nice bass lines then the sax starts blasting again before 9 minutes. The piano is incredible here as well.

I'm so impressed with this band and look forward to checking out more from them. The music is almost as perfect as the album cover. Essential !