MOTIVI DI SEMPRE

Despite only releasing their debut album in 2014, Italian band Posto Blocco 19 actually first formed all the way back in 1972 under the name Collettivo Musicale Collecchiese, on the spurring of guitarist Raimondo Fantuzzi and a group of friends who shared an appreciation for groups such as Premiata Forneria Marconi, Deep Purple and the Santana band. During their initial activity, they performed various concerts up until 1983, and released only a sole single `E La Musica Va' in 1981, but the musicians were unable to record a proper full studio album before splitting two years after that.

Reforming in 2005, the band were finally able to deliver their full-length debut nine years later with `Motivi di Sempre', containing re-arranged versions of their most significant pieces as well as new tracks recorded with a renewed line-up. The short-but-sweet results are five tracks full of the magic of the classic Italian symphonic prog-rock sound, close to the textures of PFM, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and numerous other bands with dynamic keyboard progressions, sweet melodies and pastoral moments, and it also includes a guest appearance by singer Bernardo Lanzetti (of Acqua Fragile and `Chocolate Kings/Jet-Lag/Passpartù'-era P.F.M) on a bonus track.

Opener `A un Passo dal Cielo (Suite 1)' is a reliably prancing fanfare of symphonic themes back and forth with keyboardist Graziano De Palma's zippy Moog sprints, warm Hammond delights and regal organ blasts, powered by Massimo Casaro's sweetly murmuring bass and Vittorio Savi's snappy drumming. The unhurried `E la Musica va' is dreamy and reflective before bursting to life as an upbeat vocal pop/rocker with a playful and fizzy synth pomp backing, and `All'alba del Giorno Dopo' alternates between wilder bursts of snarling twisting/turning guitars with keyboard whimsy, Raimondo's gravelly voice joined by female singer Francesca Campagna's soothing tones. `Scandendo Il Tempo' wouldn't have sounded out of place on the recent Murple album `Il Viaggio' with its male/female lead vocals, and it also includes a hint of darker flavours that almost give the piece a colder Neo Prog/early Marillion-like edge. The concluding instrumental `A Un Passo dal Cielo (Suite 2)' opens with introspective and slow-burn electric guitar, but fanciful electric piano runs, exotic percussion and a laid-back infectious jazziness give with piece a whirring P.F.M/Progenesi-like charging momentum, wrapping up a very strong collection of music.

The band have included a bonus track in the form of `L'Ultima Acqua', a piece that dates from 2014 and initially appeared on the Musea-Colossus compilation `Divine Comedy part III - Dante's Paradiso' (These particular various artist sets are well known for offering a ton of terrific contributions from a range of different Italian bands - explore them further!). It's a frequently urgent, up-tempo and ever so slightly loopy keyboard-laden symphonic blast (with earlier keyboardist Giancarlo Di Bella) with bristles of Mellotron choirs and Rick Wakeman-esque regal fanfare, with ex-P.F.M singer Bernardo Lanzaetti delivering a ravishing and deeply theatrical Italian vocal. It's a delicious and fun little extra to top off an already superb album, and it just might even become the favourite track on the disc for many listeners!

Prog fans shouldn't be put off by the barely 35 minute length (Italian prog history is full of numerous RPI bands with discs that have a brief running time!), as it means the band only include their best material with no lesser filler tracks padding out the disc. While `Motivi di Sempre' doesn't hold too many surprises, it absolutely contains beautifully performed melodic music from skilled musicians that will be a great joy for lovers of the Italian symphonic prog sound to hear. It's a disc that can easily sit proudly on a shelf next to so many other superb progressive releases from that country, both vintage and modern, and let's face it - Posto Blocco 19 fall under both those eras!

Four stars.