IL CORPO NEL SOGNO

Wonderfully refreshing chamber jazz pop from Italy and AltrOck's new "Ma.Ra.Cash Records" label. Café/lounge music for a new Beat Generation. Bravo, Stefano Giannotti! (BTW: the band's name is really just an acronym for "Osservatorio Delle Terre Emerse")

1. "Rubidor #1" (9/10) 2. "Il corpo nel sogno (The Body in the Dream)" (9/10) 3. "Neglibor" (7:01) not unlike Markkus Pajakala's BRUTOPIANISTI project--only smoothed down and with a pleasant female vocalist (reminding me of LAGARTIJA's Sara Aliani) singing in the lead. Modern "Beat" scene café music/poetry. (8.5/10) 4. "Blu marrone" (Blue Brown) (8.5/10) 5. "Sono invisibile" (Invisible) (8/10) 6. "Strippale" (7.5/10) 7. "Un paradiso con il mal di testa ? (A Paradise with a Headache) NASCITA DEI FIORI (BIRTH OF THE FLOWERS) ? Chamber poem in three movements. (3:50) Cheezy drum machine with accordion and poetry from male spoken voice. Solos from bass clarinet and toy piano. (9/10) 8. "Il cimitero delle fate (The Fairy Cemetery) (3:51) weirdness of eerie sounds pushing the boundaries of what is considered "music." (7.5/10) 9. "Di passaggio (Passing) (3:10) more weirdness and FACTOR BURZACO-like sonic challenges. (8/10) 10. "Prato Fiorito (Fowery Neadow) (6:34) 90 seconds of children's play joined by clarinets, tuba, Mellotron, and drums and, later, electric guitar. Controlled chaos. (7/10) 11. "Orfeo e Moira" (Orpheus and Moira) (7:01) absolutely gorgeous lounge music conjuring up a bit of the adventurous, eclectic Ryuichi Sakamoto feel. (10/10) 12. "Rubidor #2 (3:26) (9/10)

Overall, this is very odd, quirky, often stunningly beautiful (lazy & relaxing) music that probably only occupies a "prog" label due to its unusual, eclectic feel. I would definitely pay to sit in a room with these musicians performing.

B-/four stars; a unique and creative contribution to modern progressive rock/cabaret rock. An album/artist the world should hear.