BOMBOOK

"Bombook" is the fourth album by Agorà and was recorded live at Progressivamente Free Festival in Rome on September 20, 2015 with a line up featuring Ovidio Urbani (sax), Renato Gasparini (acoustic and electric guitar), Massimo Manzi (drums) Gabriele Possenti (acoustic guitar), Gianni Pieri (cello) and Lucio Cesari (bass) plus Patrizio Fariselli (keyboards - from Area) and Marco Agostinelli (flute). It was released in 2016 on the Cramps - Sony label and contains some brand new tracks along with brilliant new arrangements of pieces taken from their old repertoire. The art cover by Massimiliano D'Affronto depicts a very strange aircraft made of human bodies dropping books on a surreal landscape trying to convey the concept that culture and music can start a real revolution...

The crisp, lively opener 'Bombook' sets the atmosphere. It's a new track whose title refers to the idea of books can be like joyful bombs with the power of shaking human society while the music every now and again reminds me of PFM. Another beautiful brand new piece follows, the acoustic, reflective 'Reset', where you can appreciate a great flute work. Next comes a re-vitalized piece from the seventies, 'Costa dell'est' (East coast), mixing Latin rock influences and fresh breezes from the Birdland, pulsing rhythms and Mediterranean flavours...

The live version of 'Sensei' is more jazzy than the original studio one but maintains its reflective mood. Then comes the excellent 'Punto rosso' (Red Point), a track from "Agorà 2" named after a Milanese jazz club of the seventies, that here is enhanced by a great performance of the guest keyboardist Patrizio Fariselli who gives it an original touch and a vein Area's experimentalism while the following 'Ichinen' takes you back to softer territories evoking exotic flavours and mysterious landscapes...

The dreamy 'Puro' (Pure) is a good new composition with mild Oriental scents that leads to an excellent version of 'L'orto di Ovidio' (Ovidio's garden), from Agorà's debut album "Live In Montreux". Then it's the turn of another new track, the slow, melancholic 'Oak Ballad' and its almost bluesy mood...

The album ends with a sparkling version of two tracks from "Agorà 2". 'Piramide di domani' (Pyramid of tomorrow) is veiled by a dark cloud of mystery that gradually melts into in a new light while 'Cavalcata solare' (Solar ride) starts with Patrizio Fariselli's keyboards in the forefront and features a powerful, radiant crescendo that closes the show in glory with a perfect interaction between all the musicians involved.

On the whole, an excellent work that is really worth listening to.