RITRATTO LIBERO

It's been quite a while that something real good has come from Italy , a usual hotbed of Prog. I had been forewarned by my trusted prog store owner in Montreal that a new band from the "Boot" should be coming out with an alleged stunner. Always heeding his good advice, I had no hesitation in picking up this Florentine band's debut CD as soon as it arrived on the shelves. The last good stuff from Italy was a delightful Zaal album, a new Finisterre, a third Moongarden, a tantalizing Floating State and that's about it. So what does "Chiave Di Volta" (Replacement Key in Italian) do for the average progger soul? Well, firstly, they ingratiate themselves with an exquisite lead vocalist who smartly keeps to his native tongue and really displays a great set of pipes. Secondly, an Italian prog recording must include invariably some masterful flute playing if its to be true to the tradition and here the same lungs apply. Wow! Signore Villi is dazzling! Also very noteworthy is the stellar bass work throughout the recording provided by Donato Masci , who combines faultlessly with drummer Mattia Garifoli in a slightly jazzier setting. Gabriele Pasquali's keys are conducted by a constant and judicious use of piano , with some breezy synth passages that tease the mind and set the table for some original soloing by our pal Nicola Torpei , especially on the absorbing 15 minute title track , a true monument to modern Italian prog. This is a deviously delicious masterpiece , displaying uncanny fluidity within the cleanest production you could hope for. Loads of adroit ideas and vivid impressions abound as this album did not hit me straight away. I needed to give it some respect on the third go through, as my previous attempts were half hearted and I was immediatly rewarded . This is most definitely a keeper that will keep on growing on you until you succumb to its numerous charms. Bravo, ragazzi! 5 ferraris