BOOMERANG

The sound is less fresh than the previous classic ROTOLANDO, RESPIRANDO, but, somehow, more dense thanks to the use of oberheim synthesizer, mellotron and other sympho stuff. Still as accurate and refined (probably more refined).

As I said before (it's not new) many could find too mellow or boring Pooh's music. In fact they are a band you love or hate... I'm afraid there's no middle way.

As usual I'll put in a list the most interesting tracks, from a prog (related) point of view:

First of all the big hit of the summer of '78: CERCAMI, an easy listening rock number with really catchy rythm, lucky 4 voices chorus, "biting" electric guitar, oberheim synth, sparse steinway piano. Not bad but probably a little predictable.

Way more interesting the following LA LEGGENDA DI MAUTOA (which tells the story of an aborigen living in a solitary island in the middle of the ocean): it has a nice, sad epic sound (that remembers me some spaghetti-western of the seventies), some serious orchestral timpani and oohhh deep choruses. Very good but probably a little repetitive.

QUADERNO DI DONNA has an excellent and sparkling intro (which emerges now and then all along the piece... wow). It is certainly a more varied piece with some shifting moods worthy of mention.

The closer IL RAGAZZO DEL CIELO (LINDBERGH) is (another time) the gem of the album. The song is about the transatlantic flight that Charles Lindberg made in 1927 all alone, from New York to France.

It opens with atmospheric and windy keys with soft one-voice melody that suddenly is broken by the typical Pooh's 4-voices chorus. The second half is more rythmic and tasteful with excellent sympho riffs (keys, tataa tataa choruses and cool electric guitar, all wisely blended). It is as epic sounding as La Leggenda di Mautoa but more suprising, this time.

A closer like this does help the (fanatic prog) listener to wake up after having attended to such a soft music. It also helps him to be reconciled with himself (for the album's purchase) and with his ears (for all this boring torment... eh e heh).

All in all, BOOMERANG, only at first glance less appealing than the previous work, features, at least, other three or four interesting and honourable numbers that can easily please fans of softer side of prog.