LATTE E MIELE 2.0: PAGANINI EXPERIENCE

Italian prog band LATTE E MIELE ("Milk and Honey") was among the most classically influenced RPI bands in the early 70's alongside with e.g. Quella Vecchia Locanda. On Latte e Miele's third album Aquile e Scoiattoli (1976) only a drummer remained from the original line-up, and two of the newcomers were keyboardist Luciano Poltini and guitarist-bassist-vocalist Massimo Gori. Now they have formed Latte e Miele 2.0 featuring also violinist Elena Aiello and drummer Marco Biggi.

Despite the title Paganini Experience, only one of the compositions actually is by Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840), the violin virtuoso and the "rock star" of his time. Actually I'm reliefed: Paganini's solo violin pieces usually get to my nerves as a classic example of show-off virtuosity before deeper musical contents. There are brief liner notes for the tracks in Italian, and Paganini is mentioned in several of them, but I don't know Italian enough to be sure if Paganini's life was primarily a source of inspiration. Anyway, I was charmed by this album!

The music is shamelessly retro-styled -- one could be fooled to believe this album was from 1973 (with a better production than back then). I had an association to the classic albums of New Trolls (Concerto Grosso per i New Trolls, 1971) and Il Rovescio della Medaglia (Contaminazione, 1973) that were collaborations with composer-arranger Luis Bacalov and combined rock and Baroque-style chamber music. Especially the instrumental opener 'Inno' sounds pretty similar to them. Organ-oriented, ELP-influenced prog rock with romantically soaring, lovely violin melodies. The warm sound is gorgeous. 'Via del Colle' is a vocal song that seems to be dealing with Paganini's childhood. Massimo Gori is a good vocalist, and again the melodies are very romantic and passionate. 'L'Ora delle Tenebre' is another great song; I sensed some BANCO and PROCOL HARUM in the melodies. Vocals leave plenty of room for the instruments too.

'Cantabile 2019' features violin and soft, wordless vocal harmonies reminiscent of a cappella groups such as Rajaton from Finland! 'Charlotte reminds me of the Norwegian, Eurovision's 1995 contest winning duo SECRET GARDEN: soft and nocturnally romantic instrumental piece for synths and violin. 'Danza di Luce' is a 2-part instrumental, again reminding of the mentioned Bacalov-collaborations. An identifiable Paganini citation is included in this dynamic track that at times is almost pure classical music and at times ELP-ish prog rock.

'Angel' is a cover of the Jimi Hendrix song originating from his posthumous album The Cry of Love (1971). This version -- obviously starring violin and keyboards instead of guitar -- works very well. Paganini's 'Cantabile 1835' for violin and piano finishes the album in a peaceful, classical way. I don't want to count how many times I used the two words that I truly find the best to describe this classically inspired and retro prog -style album: romantic and charming. I hope you can estimate from my review if it would charm YOU.

"Paganini Experience", the third studio album after the new millennium reunion by Latte e Miele, was released in 2019 on the independent label Black Widow Records. Since in the band there are no founder members left, it was wisely released under the name Lattemiele 2.0 with a line up featuring along with historic members Massimo Gori (bass, guitar, vocals) and Luciano Poltini (piano, organ, keyboards, backing vocals) the fresh energies of Elena Aiello (violin) and Marco Biggi (drums, percussion). What they deliver here is a concept album inspired by Genoese composer and virtuoso Niccolò Paganini where you can find a really good blend of classical influences and progressive rock in the best Italian tradition from the seventies but with an updated sound quality. The excellent art work and the graphic project of the rich, colourful booklet by Gino Andrea Carosini and Marco Mastroianni help to understand the concept...

The beautiful opener "Inno" (Hymn) starts by a violin solo passage, then the keyboards and the rhythm section take over for an adventurous, fantasy ride. According to the liner notes, this is a hymn to the music that doesn't know limits of space, time nor genre and in the meantime a way to pay homage to the late Keith Emerson who passed away in the days when this piece was composed.

The soft, melancholic "Via del Colle" evokes bitter-sweet memories from Paganini's childhood and conjures up his ghost complaining about the greediness of the businessmen who demolished the house where he was born. In fact, the title of this piece refers to a street in Genoa located in the Molo district, an area that in the early seventies of the twentieth century was subject to demolitions that affected also the native house of the famous musician (portrayed in the booklet).

"L'ora delle tenebre" (The hour of darkness) starts with a flamboyant piano solo pattern, then organ and rhythm section bring a change of atmosphere. This piece depicts a city at dusk, when darkness falls down like a web upon streets and houses. It's the hour of the lost souls but also a time of secret rites and obscure symbolism on the border between good and evil... The music and lyrics here refer to the diabolic aura that surrounded Paganini but also to his devotion to art and music and to his links with Freemasonry, an influential semi-secret force in Italian politics that promoted universal values.

Inspired by Paganini's music, "Cantabile 2019" is a dreamy instrumental track featuring the elaborated harmony vocals of the Genoese vocal group Clusters and their perfect interaction with the violin lines. Every now and again it could recall the New Trolls from "Concerto Grosso"...

The nocturnal "Porto di notte" (Port by night) describes a walk under the moonlight through the narrow alleys of Genoa port district. The ships seem like monstrous, silent giants with their white sails resting in the port, sheltered from the blowing winds. A lantern shines like a distant star showing the way to thirsty sailors, artists, gamblers and other people looking for fun. Under that light, in a hazy tavern you can find alcohol drinks and unashamed ballerinas ready to heat your night as the fog of the port hugs you like a mother hugs her child. Maybe it's right here that you'll meet a damned artist like Paganini...

The short instrumental "Charlotte" is a dreamy, romantic piece that refers to a famous Paganini's love affair with a young singer, Charlotte Watson, a romance that was also narrated in The Devil's Violinist, a 2013 film directed by Bernard Rose and starring David Garrett and Jared Harris... Anyway, here there's nothing but the beautiful music to suggest the plot.

"Danza di luce" (Dance of light) is another excellent instrumental track divided into two movimenti. According to the liner notes, it draws a kind of winding path leading from the solemnity of a cathedral to an imaginary jam session between Paganini and a rock band. It includes some variations on Paganini's Capriccio N. 24 and a contribute of the guest musician Aldo De Scalzi (from Picchio dal Pozzo).

"Angel" is a cover of a piece by Jimi Hendrix and was included on the album to mark the parallelism between the extravagant violin virtuoso and the famous guitar hero. Of course, in Latte e Miele's version the role of violin is prominent, but you can always imagine a duet between the two stars...

The last track, "Cantabile 1835", is a piece by Paganini for solo piano and violin interpreted by Elena Aiello in perfect classical style, as close as possible to the way the maestro would have played it in his times...

On the whole, a beautiful album full of classical contaminations...