LA STREGA

Barrock were not meant to stay on SI label, the later went baknrupt in mid-90's and the Italian group moved on searching for a new label.Finally Mellow Records decided to release the band's third album ''La Strega'' in 1999.This latest album was almost exclusively a matter of the Poles family, as Giuseppe Vendramin played keyboards only on one track and Graziella Vendramin was abroad, trying to pursue a solo career as a jazz singer.

Stylistically nothing has changed for Barrock, they still played bombastic keyboard-driven Classical/Symphonic Rock along the lines of QUASAR LUX SYMPHONIAE, only this time the album has plenty of instrumental themes and limited female vocals in just a couple of tracks.The long ''La mutazione'', taking 1/3 of the album's length, simply defines Barrock's career.Bombastic E.L.P.-like keyboard workouts mixed with some grandiose, operatic female vocals and crying guitar solos, absolutely fantastic.The rest of the album consists of short tracks filled with massive organ acrobatics, piano interludes and orchestral themes, somewhere between Classical Rock and Electronic/Symphonic music.Guitars appear every now and then, producing usually some sort of Neo-Classical melodies.The only complaint comes from the digital string sections and the somewhat cheap synth-drenched soundscapes, sounding a bit flat next to the more grandiose moments of the album.

''La strega'' was Barrock's last ever offering in Progressive Rock and it is another example of how good this band was back in the 90's.Strongly recommended, especially for lovers of keyboard-based Progressive Rock and cinematic soundscapes...3.5 stars.