BLINK

First album by an Osana-Cervello offshoot and a much more worthy affair than the horrible Uno experience, even if only the two Osana members will stay beyond this first album. And unlike what you'd expect, Nova developed a wild jazz-rock in this opus. Formed in London, under Pete Townsend (Who?) and recorded in his private studios (Eel Pie), Nova presented as a quintet (standard prog quartet plus Elio D'Ana on sax and flute) and gave us plenty of excellent mid-70's fusion in their debut, sung in English (quite well) with lyrics provided by an outside Sedgwick. With an average artwork evoking a slow motion blink (with a changing iris color in the third photo), the album is probably what comes best from Italy in this JR/F style, along with Perigeo and some Area.

Six tracks all divided into two parts all giving high-energy and enthralling jazz-rock, they can be associated with the future Brand X (many members will guest in the following three albums), but also with the second stable Nucleus era (the Sutton years) and even a bit of the first Colosseum (partly due to the vocals). Obviously well coached by the production team, the four sung tracks are in very good English (all things considered), but really, this is a minor aspect as all five musos are dishing out impressive 200 MPH fusion with impressive technical abilities. But I would not actually make you believe they reach Mahavishnu or RTF's technical and virtuosic level, but they match at least the first in feeling.

Easily their better albums (at least in proghead terms) of their four, the odd thing is that with further albums as Brand X and other all-star guests will appear on themù, they will become rockier with each new album. Excellent album, almost essential, but definitely earning its fourth star.

NOVA should be a band I enjoy, because of their style of music and the gifted performers but...they do not click with me. It just seems like there's something on each album that turns me off. This their debut would be four stars if it was all-instrumental but it's not, and yes the vocals are a big negative for me. Why do Italian bands want to sing in English ? Well in this case it wouldn't matter I just don't like his vocal style.

"Tailor Made" opens with strummed guitar then it kicks in quickly with a full sound including sax then vocals. A guitar outburst 1 1/2 minutes in. I don't like this track at all mainly because of the vocals. "Something Inside Keeps You Down" opens with mournful sax until almost spoken vocals arrive before 2 minutes. Drums and bass a minute later.This is better. It's pretty intense 5 minutes in. Great sound ! "Nova" opens with guitar as drums, sax and a full sound join in.The guitar is back out front 2 minutes in.

"Used To Be Easy" is mellow with flute to start along with cymbals and guitar.Vocals before a minute followed by sax. It picks up 2 1/2 minutes in. I really like the drumming here but not the vocals. Big finish. "Toy" is my favourite.This is a funky number with sax blasting over top.The guitar replaces the sax before 3 minutes. An excellent instrumental. "Stroll On" kicks in before a minute. The drumming is killer. Vocals 1 1/2 minutes in.The guitar solo after 3 minutes is incredible.The man can play with speed if he wants to. Vocals are back 4 1/2 minutes in. Guitar is back 6 1/2 minutes in this time with a laid back solo. Sax ends it.

A good album no doubt about it but not worth 4 stars in my book thanks to the vocals.