LE QUATTRO STAGIONI

La N.A.V.E. (the initials for Nuova Avanguardia Voci Etniche) were formed in 1989, coming from a small village near Rome named Anticoli Corrado.Early years found the band just playing for fun, as time passed by they got into more serious forms of music with the main core being Sergio Muzi on guitars/vocals, Enzo Muzi on keyboards and Dario Di Centi on drums.Following the great feedback after competitions and concerts La N.A.V.E. now with bassist Giorgio Brugnone recorded their sole release ''Le quattro stagioni'' (The four seasons) for Mellow Records in October 1999.

The album consists of four tracks, each representing a season of the year, with the 20-min. opening ''Primavera'' highlighting the release.A mix of keyboard-driven Progressive Rock and Psych/Prog with huge retro influences, mainly based on Enzo Muzi's keyboard work with the vintage organ sounds dominating this effort.There are also some trombones here and there to recall something of MAXOPHONE along with a jamming middle section,while the second part of the track is on the mellow side of things with nice acoustic guitars and romantic piano.Vocals are also in a good level.''Estate'' follows the same vein, the organ even evokes something from the 60's, sounding similar to Pop/Prog acts like I POOH or I FLASHMEN.Another trombone section by the end will add some grandiosity to the track.Don't expect things to change with ''Autunno''.Organ is again the leading instrument but there are also some synths and guitars on the forefront as well, all delivering some nice solos here and there and alternating finely with vocal sections in a decent modern Psych/Prog parade.''Inverno'' sounds a lot like METAMORFOSI,Enzo Muzi performs in a Classical vein this time with dynamic guitars around before the long middle break leads to the vocal-based ending section with synths surrounding.An obscure closing piece to say the least.

''Le quattro stagioni'' follows the lines of 70's Italian Prog with a fair dose discipline.Good arrangements, good vocals, good production but no more than that.Recommended for lovers of organ-driven Prog and even for fans out of Italian Prog knowledge.