H

This is the earliest effort by Italian progrock trio Aton's, the album H is from 1985. The emphasis is on the atmosphere, rather than excursions on guitar and keyboards. In general the 17 compositions sound fluent and harmonic with many cheercul climates featuring beautiful acoustic guitar, twanging electric guitars with slight distortion and a bit functional keyboards, Remarkable are the warm and inspired vocals and some fiery electric guitar soli. The music by Aton's on this fine album reminds me of fellow Italian Angelo Branduardi, mainly because of the obvious folky elements. If you feel a little bit depressed, stressed or unhappy, this album will help you to battle these feelings, 'in dulci jubilo' would Mike Oldfield say!

Written in 80's, recorded live in a small studio in Turin in 1985 and published in 1993 (with no mix sessions) 'H' is a unique album.

'H' is a concept album about the story of a soldier and the death (played by a woman) during a war. If the theme is extreme interesting the music is no exception. In fact, proper because recorded live and with no good mix (in addition to other defects...) this album conquest me.

Good the vocal parts (a la Franco battiato) and good the music (a Prog version of Elettro POP, similar to Battiato, but with less Dance and Avant Garde writing style), based on the arrangements with a good melody (and not only in a not arranged melody). Good the guitar but the drums dominates the other instruments (and looks like a D-Drum... even cymbals sounds like an electronic cymbals... but this sound is due to recording process, I suppose...).

In other vision 'H' is a great piece of Prog, not typical of Neo Prog but 100% RPI, cause the style of writing (although too POP) and arrangements. In fact the baroque elements of RPI are presents in 'H' musical concept. So the music is extreme easy but difficult, with dymamism and feeling in first plan.

For me 'H' is an album to rediscover, RPI or not RPI aficionados!