CRIPTOIDEA

"FIRST REVIEW OF THIS ALBUM"

Italian formation Mass Media made music in the Seventies, in 2005 they have reunited because the label Electromantic invited the band to make a new album. The reunion line-up featured three original members and this album was released in 2007.

The CD Criptoidea contains 13 songs, four have (Italian) vocals, the rest is instrumental. The music often delivers swinging and fluent jazzrock (echoes from Mahavishnu Orchestra and Brand X) with lots of guitar and Fender Rhodes electric piano (along Hammond organ and synthesizers) and a very adventurous, often propulsive rhythm-section. I am impressed by the musicians their skills and interplay, it's obvious they are very experienced and know each other very well in musical terms. I am delighted about the parts in which the guitar is supported by strings/ a propulsive rhythm-section and the duels between guitar and keyboards, what an energy. The final composition Suite Del Ringraziamento (funny title, it means 'Thanksgivings Suite') is a tribute to some classical composers and keyboardists Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson. It is recorded live in the studio and contains short renditions of compositions by Bach (Badinerie and Preludio), Mozart (Rondo A La Turca), Bernstein (America), Brubeck (Blue Rondo A La Turk), Copland (Hoedown) and Wakeman (Catherine Howard). We can enjoy sparkling piano and fiery guitar and great interplay between guitar and keyboards. Remarkably is the fiery electric guitar in Hoedown, instead of the legendary fat Moog synthesizer sound.

I am sure this CD wil please many jazzrock fans, what a stunning band and what an exciting CD!

Mass Media can be considered an obscure band from Italy in the '70 with great potential but the final result of a studio album saw the day only in 2007 named Criptoidea. Before this album they release Opacita oscura , a collection of live songs from 1978. So, Mass Media joined together after many years and Criptoidea was issued. This is a fantastic progressive jazz rock relase with catchy passages with top notch musicianship. All pieces has a '70 flavour with references from ELP, PFM, Arti e Mesteri, Brand X with a clear italian atmosphere. Also the final piece Suite del ringraziamento is dedicated to the masters Bach, Mozart, Bernstein, etc All in all a really intresting release this release, totaly unknown to prog listners. Excellent aswell the art work.4 stars for sure, love it.