PRIME NUMBERS

Alphataurus' many PA fans (looking at you John!) are going to be salivating as they crash the Villa. The legendary Alphataurus are treating fans to a unique limited edition release in the form of a live CD entitled "Prime Numbers", featuring three long cuts recorded live during their reunion performances of 2011-2012. There is also an edit of a studio cut that has not been released on album. Making this more exciting is the second disc, a live DVD of the 2010 Progvention event of a few years ago. A limited edition vinyl is also available for the vinyl hounds.

Reaching back to their first album is an extended long version of "Dopo L'uragano" with a tortured, wild violin guest spot by Mietek Glinkowski. Plenty of jamming key solos on this one as well. The short track "Gocce" is lovely with repeating piano motif and some gorgeous vocal work. A buoyant and ascending keyboard part fills this out, it is uptempo and engaging, would be a great prog "single." The meat of the disc comes from the second album oddly, which is the album that was left unfinished when Alphataurus dissolved in 1974. Here they sound finished and fleshed out, finally coming to life as they were intended to back in the day. "Claudette" finds the band in top form, effortlessly blending their chops across the finely aged if somewhat typical "prog rock". I love some of the richly layered keyboard parts here, and again, Falcone's vocas are more than an able substitution for Michele Bavaro. "Valigie di terra" begins with a spirited drum solo and some spacey guitar that in a few mysterious places remind me of Tales snippets. Then the warm vocals enter again followed by a melodic chorus section. Even some jazzy piano and a wicked bass solo, this eclectic track is my favorite in this set as it takes more chances. It's a welcome return from an old friend and despite them not being my favorite RPI band by a long shot, it is really a treat to have them together again and still performing.

I've not viewed the DVD so I cannot comment on the sound/picture there but the CD portions sounds very good. I may edit this review later if I get a chance to view the DVD portion. Go get it John!

A few years back completely out of the blue the impossible happened. The triumphant return of the mighty Alphataurus, The Dove had came back and was very alive & kicking ! I have always loved and preferred the heavier & darker side of Italian Prog, namely bands like Alphataurus, Il Balletto di Bronzo, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Campo di Marte, Il Biglietto per L´Inferno, De De Lind... and I bought the Live in Bloom 2010 album without hesitation immediately I saw it for sale online four years back. So did my friend as well after having had realized the so long awaited comeback of a true legendary Italian band. And there were great videos on YouTube of their return on stage.... but we had to wait for another thousand years to see the whole gig... and here it is !

This is funny but I never thought that it could be nothing but good, at least. Actually I wasn´t surprised as it proved to be a perfect live album from a Legend. Altough the original vocalist Michele Bavaro with his very very powerful voice isn´t with anymore. So the new singer has a mammoth task to complete the sound, to fit the boots of great Bavaro. I must admit, he does it surprisingly well. Of course Claudio Falcone´s voice is not as impressive as Bavaro´s but actually is just excellent and it fits the music perfectly. Anyway, he must have been the best available and sings the tunes so competently and beautifully. He also adds some theatre in his very funny way of own to the songs. Still a bit shy but a showman and a frontman already. Bravo Claudio !

Also the new bass player Fabio Rigamonti surprises with sheer musicality and fits the band´s sound just nicely as well. And his not too long bass solo is nothing but perfect and adds virtuosity with sweetness to the song. Bravo ! And with the original drummer Giorgio Santandrea´s very competent percussion work and a very distinctive soft and fat sound of his very own the rhythm section anchors the heavy foundation of this new yet so familiar Alphataurus sound. Guido Wasserman´s very economical style has emphasis on song structures by following the music itself rather than long soloing, a style close to Rodolfo Maltese´s and Steve Hackett´s. And Pietro Pellegrini with a new keyboardist Andrea Guizetti complete the original Alphataurus´bold and colourful textures. It´s a perfect RPI sound, as it can get. And most importantly they are loyal to the original analog textures and atmosphere as close as possibly as it could be with today´s technology. Perfetto ! The band performs its magnificent debut album in its entirety plus a new tune in between the songs. Luckily it is not a filler, it just slows down the performance for a short while. The return could not have been any better. Also the venue is just small enough to catch this perfect sound on record with an enthusiast Italian audience that don´t make annoying noise but actually listens to this classic prog band from their very own, special culture. It´s the Italian way. Nothing but perfection and respect to the music. Grazie, Alphataurus !

Ah, there´s also a CD with new songs. Well, they are good and the heavy almost tortured violin adds something new to the sound but that´s nothing important for me really.

I bought this is only for the DVD concert. Their first live gig, now a legendary performance is captured on video and that´s enough for me. This DVD alongside the Prog Exhibition 4 DVD set filmed earlier that year documents what is the very finest of classic RPI today with the best artist still in incredible vital form, like BMS, PFM, Osanna and Le Orme giving their very best. For me, the return of Alphataurus is the greatest thing in today´s Italian scene. Alphataurus proudly continues carrying the Italian torch ! Prog is saved again from boredom :)