MASQUE

According to my information this is an Italian band, the album is a re-release from their album made in 1982. The first impression on their opener "Wild rushing waters" is positive: a swinging rhythm with propulsive bass work and fiery electric guitar. The keyboards sound tasteful delivering pleasant organ waves, fluent synthesizer flights and strong electric piano play. The final part contains a biting electric guitar solo. The song "Look out" has echoes from the bluesrock in the vein of Peter Green, the Fender Rhodes electric piano work reminds me of "Riders on the storm" from The Doors (addition please!). Next two long compositions that showcases the talents from this band: "The masque of the red death" (derived from the E.A. Poe story) contains a folky climate, lots of flute and beautiful acoustic guitar. Then an accellaration featuring great work on guitar and keyboards. Halfway we can feel the E.A. Poe horror due to an ominous atmosphere (keyboards, vocals and scary sounds). The song "Icarus" has two parts: first many shifting moods with lots of flute and acoustic guitar along some fiery electric guitar. The second part has swinging keyboards, a propulsive bass and powerful electric guitar. The vocals are strong. The final composition is very swinging, almost an invitation to dance, this is too much for this non-rhythmic reviewer! Nonetheless, this is a fine progrock album.