DEL PERDUTO CORAGGIO

There are very few groups in Progland quite like these simply amazing Italians, choosing to ply the oft traveled waters of symphonic prog with a whimsical take on the style, bringing in all kinds of intriguing touches. Their previous album "Distratto Dal Sole" was a real jewel, fueled by Davide Pisi's rather original guitar style, some unique singing in the traditional language of the land and some very attractive arrangements that kept away from synthesized bombast, preferring a jazzier experimentation slant. "Del Perdutto Corraggio" is even more leftfield, exploring peculiar soundscapes with unabashed curiosity , propelled by Pisi's magic axe and masterful interventions from the remaining crew, Marco Gusberti relying mostly on ornate yet slightly dissonant piano and hissing synths in an almost ultra-modern electronic style, as opposed to traditional sweeping virtuoso approach. The material sparkles with a hypnotic feel, singers Massimiliano Galbani and Mario Bramé (who is an excellent drummer as well) offering up some sense of lyrical balance to arrangements that veer dangerously close to sheer madness. At times minimalist (especially when the piano plays a major role) and at others effervescent, their brand of ISP is wholly original, extremely affirmative and slightly provocative as proven by the "Yugoslav" radio samples that collide with bubbling synths, mechanical drum beats, closer to experimental electronica than anything symphonic, as amply demonstrated on the manic "Dovuti Effetti di Una Sola Causa". The next track "Neon" returns to the supple delivery of their brand of psychedelia, with Pisi's twangy 6 string foray, twirling politely with Massimo Necchi's booming bass guitar, this is Mary Newsletter at their most cohesive and unique. The title track reverts to the realm of creative bizarreness, weird electro burps shuffling relentlessly, zips and zaps all over the place with an exalted vocal rant that is downright creepy, until Pisi kicks in a wickedly schizoid guitar blast, full of muted rage and insanity. This will not play on the radio, I assure you. "Amica Venus" is a disjointed affair that reveals some disturbing traits, burping bass heralding in a marshalling vocal that seem to float in luscious rancor. A slashing harmonica sardonically winks at the intense wah-wah guitar explosion, a definite descent into delirium. "Wittgestein 31" is another sterling electro breeze with swooning washes of synthesized wind, floating over some simple guitar picking, a brief but magnificent piece of divine music. The concise "Déjà vu reprise" revisits a previous album mainstay, the playful "Déjà vu", a sing along ditty full of fun and brawn. The boys like to have some fun, occasionally sprinkled with some odd ball configurations which continue on the rather Tullian "Prospektiva Nevski", echo vocal and all. While not as immediately appealing as their stunning predecessor, credit must be given to their inbred sense of "progression". 4 issues.