STORIA MAI SCRITTA

Initially transparent and one-dimensional, Storia Mai Scritta is really a folk suite disguised as prog and a definite grower. The seemingly simple and mostly instrumental arrangements contradict the sheer depth and amount of creativity artist Enzo Capuano pours into it; while only the first and last tracks feature lyrical content, the album as a whole tells a story musically and speaks volumes through its sparseness rather than its orchestration. Limited instrumentation is used to accomplish this task, with only Capuano's 12-string guitar, a drumset, and various synths at the helm. Piano player Mario Panseri, for whom Enzo Capuano had previously contributed guitar on 1972's Adolescenza, returns the favor here and does so in a tasteful fashion. Though Panseri was classically trained and a competent composer in his own right, his performance is restrained compared to similar synth-heavy albums (Luciano Basso's Voci, for example). Though you won't find any Mellotron or Eminent, the synths, organ and piano are used to create a dreamy atmosphere only accentuated by sparse percussion effects and arpeggiated guitar. And while Storia Mai Scritta has a fairly average length of 38 minutes, its running time flies by and the album is over before you know it. A truly great album always leaves you wanting more, and this one does just that. "Essential" and "Masterpiece" are not quite terms I would use to describe it, but Enzo Capuano's lone foray into the world of Rock Progressivo Italiano is an easy four- star recommendation.

The longish "In Forma di Vita" sets the scene for Capuano's tale of rose-colored nostalgia; gentle percussion accompanies acoustic guitar, synth bass, and piano. Enzo's strong, yet relaxing voice enters and impresses the listener with its calm command and presence. After a brief transition, the suite's first part bellows and wails in crescendo, though even this is restrained and never showy. A tempo change helps to ease into part two "La Nuova Stagione," which sounds a bit like Reale Accademia di Musica on Valium. "Volo Nella Notte" is slightly more energetic, adding a pulsing tambourine and frantic hi-hat to the mix. I especially love the way percussion like chimes and castanets are panned in the distance to create a swirly, psychedelic effect. Storia Mai Scritta is good headphone listening for sure; the entire album is extremely well recorded and produced, and sounds amazingly ahead of and out of its time.

"Risveglio" ends what would be Lato A, or side A, of the vinyl LP and does so powerfully. This provocative chord progression is really the first hint of melancholy and adds some welcome mass to an otherwise lightweight sequence. "Dal Tempo Vissuto" continues the minor-key momentum before the short piece ends abruptly and fades to "La Natura Dentro." For the first time Capuano and Panseri start to incorporate earlier thematic elements, giving the album a sense of coherence and musical "glue" that holds everything together. The long "Memoria" does a good job of filling out the second side without ever becoming stale or long-winded. My favorite moment on the entire disc occurs at the four-minute mark when an unexpected key change comes out of nowhere and takes the song in a totally different direction for about thirty seconds and disappears, never to be heard again. The extended instrumental workout eventually gives way to "Il Buio" and again Enzo Capuano is heard as if singing his own movie credits. Like Adolescenza, Storia Mai Scritta is very much a musical motion picture that ebbs and flows, and is forever memorable.