TALSETE DI MARSANTINO

Sometimes they come back, and when the return makes noise then is better turn up the volume, so that everyone will listen to better. This is not a great return, only one of the many bands that in Italy of 70s haven't had so much fortune. The grandeur of this return is represented by the exceptional maturity acquired during the last 38 years. Also their name is a good idea. In fact L'estate di San Martino (San Martino's Summer) is a period, in case it occurs, in which in autumn, after the first frosts it happens climatic conditions more pleasant of warmth (is the "indian summer" for Anglo-Saxon country). This album seems transmit the same feeling. It's as if it finally came after a long period of cold.

Time is something of fascinating for men, something that seems to play with human reason, hiding its real essence while it flows on relentlessly. And precisely this is the theme that they have chosen. The concept album Talsete Di Marsantino (acronym of the band's name) tells the fantastic story (written by guitarist Riccardo Regi) of an archivist, the most known of his time for his skills and his intelligence, that received the important burden to record all the human knowledge (intended maybe also like tradition of Progressive Rock) . So, in a time that do not seems to belong to the conventional rules, between oddities that seems coming from an unknown past and a futuristic device that will punctuates the present time, the adventure of Talsete Di Marsantino seems to get back to childhood, hearing its whistle.

The album has an aptitude completely Progressive. From the architecture as concept album to the sound typically vintage, from the elegant romanticism of RPI to the musical moments with unpredictable dynamics it sounds as the best tradition of Progressive Rock of a memorable musical experience. The work is mostly instrumental, based on acoustic guitar (Riccardo Regi) and piano (Stefano Tofi), where melodies seems to chase each other, merging and then give life to intense and warmth atmospheres, but there are also pure moment of Prog Rock (intro in "Hallucigenia"). To enrich this treasure there are the flute and sophisticated saxophone plots (Marco Pentiricci) that makes it more dreamy and airy and the participation of great musicians! Is possible to discover a soul more "restless" (if so it can say), in song such as "Archivista" (archivist / file clerk) with an electric guitar in Hackett / Genesis style. From here starts the beautiful "Fretta" (hurry), feeling which Talsete is kidnapped so much to not notice to embraced already his assignment, with exciting tones underlined by female vocals (Conny Rausch). After a little look under the stars in the San Lawrence's Night (Il Cielo Per San Lorenzo), here comes the first great guest. A wonderful intermezzo short but intense of electric guitar by the unmistakable Steve Hackett get us through a new concept of time, where the clacking of the "Long Now Clock" alternates every year. A romantic song with violins, acoustic guitar and piano and electric guitar laments that loads the piece of no time atmosphere.

Deep and elegant musical plots alternates masterfully in track such as "L'Estate Di San Martino", proud expression of the "same old" RPI of Great 70s Masters. My favorite musical passage (considering the entire listening) is in the song "Mono Lake", that establish oneself let me forget, if only for a moment, that I'm listening to it in 2014! Conclude the album the songs "Otto" (eight) and "S.E.N.O.". In the first appears the Voice (in my personal opinion) of RPI Francesco Di Giacomo, a flash of nostalgia for Banco's lovers. Here there is also the last (short) participation of Steve Hackett effective and unique like ever. The song S.E.N.O sounds with the Progressive band's mark, one of the few singed moment in the album but really good with Franceso Di Giacomo that sings "I've Got No More Time For Memories" in the way that only he can do.

There are also two (wonderful) bonus tracks. "Res Gestae" is the report of the story with the principal themes of all the songs. The narrator is Italian but don't worry, on the booklet there the translation with a tale more complete full of strange happenings and situations! If someone wants a more pleasant experience naturally must listen to the album reading the tale. "Pesce Vela" (sailfish) is their old piece here with another great participation. Yes the voice is that of Bernardo Lanzetti (ex ACQUA FRAGILE and PFM) that still the same of at least 40 years ago.

This album is far from the experimentation of new sounds and sonorities, oriented to a glorious past for Progressive Rock. This could be considered "the real project" of this band with a strange past that finally is materialized and that only now they are receiving the right attention. The presence of some great name is the proof of their commitment and their passion for Progressive Rock, with the desire to retrieve its essence, "swept away, at the time, far too hastily from the punk genre" (from a personal intervention of Riccardo Regi). Someone could label them such as band boring too Genesis oriented (and I must admit that previous two works are only decent with a few glorious moments) listened by nostalgic of Prog. This wonderful album sounds a Progressive Rock intelligent, bonded to the past but with a look to the new sonorities. This album let me changed opinion about them. Its sound is elegant such as BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO and effective like PREMIATA FORNERIA MARCONI, depth like GENESIS and unique like this renewed style of L'ESTATE DI SAN MARTINO. An exciting journey of a man in front of the magnificence and the mystery of time. A mix of feelings and emotions upon the notes of more than one hour of beautiful music.

5 Stars - Fortunately they come back!