OFFICIAL BOOTLEG: IN CONCERTO

The live' recordings from this concert are from 1997 when Malibran played a gig on the famous island Sicile. The recording quality is on the level of a decent bootleg but to me this doesn't sound as a problem. There is plenty to enjoy on this live album: ten plesant and melodic compositions featuring great dual guitarplay (with hints from Steve Rothery and David Gilmour)and swirling work on the flute, only the keyboards sound a bit too functional. Highlights are an abridged version of Pyramid's Street (a Bolero rhythm and an Arabian climate), Magica Attesa (good soli on guitar and flute) and the long, captivating Prelude (evoking early Marillion) delivering a fiery and powerful, Ritchie Blackmore inspired solo. Malibran won't be awarded as an very original or extremely crafty progrock band but to me they sound very pleasant and varied. Many parts of this concert CD can also be heard and seen on their DVD Malibran 10 Anni In Concerto. Once I hope to see them live!

"Malibran" is unfortunately for its fans a band that almost never played outside Sicily, their native island. Very few incursions on mainland Italy and that's it for their live appearences. And this is realy a pity (although the band is not very active these days).

After two short pieces of music, "Key Intro" (totally reminiscent of "SOYCD" and "Distance" which sounds as the start of "In The Cage"), the first true and very melodic song "Pyramid Street" is probably one of their hardest one. Reminds me the hard- rocking "Tull" and also has some link with "The Knife". This version is much shorter than its studio counterpart, but it is very pleasant. Strangely enough for an Italian band, most of the vocals are sung in English. Flute and keys do shine on most of their work.

Another good song from their album "La Cittá Sul Lago" will be seriously shortened. Only a protion from "On The Lightwaves" is featured. This twelve minutes song is cut by almost two third. What a pity! Even if a great guitar solo stands out.

One of the absolute highlight IMO is "Nuovo Regno". One of their best song ever written. From an aerial and atmospheric intro, the song is going crescendo and we'll be transported through a nice vocal part which prepares the listener to a strong second section. Rocking alright, it delivers one of their greatest guitar moments ever. It is also combined with powerful keys. What a great song!

"Malibran" is a song of their debut album. This version is three times as long as the original. It features a drum solo (no fully necessary) as well as long flute passages which are rather pleasant (but I am a flute maniac). Even the riff of "Wring that Neck" (from Purple) is featured for a short time.

As Giusseppe Scaravalli introduces the next song, he will mention that it is an unreleased piece that they are going to play. The track "La Città Sul Lago" will effectiviely be featured on their studio album (same title) a year after this gig (same applied to "Nuovo Regno"). It is a long and uninspired instrumental track featuring a long sax solo. The jazzy and improv mood is not of my liking.

But another one of their greatest song is the second highlight of this album. The wonderful "Prelude" and its classical oriented intro is another marvel that only the Italian prog genre can produce. This flute play is so magic, so melodious, so passionate. A jewel of a moment, really. But the whole song (almost twelve minutes) is an enchantment. Violent and vigourous sections, extraordinary guitar solo is what you can expected from this fantastic "Prelude". The second highlight.

What a strange idea to reduce their wonderful epic "Le Porte del Silenzio" by NINETY percent! A three minutes "edit" for this twenty-seven minutes song is a real shame. You definitely need to listen to listen to the full studio version to capture the beauty of this song. It will even serves as band intro. This is really disappointing.

"Malibran" could have released an even better live album if they had decided not to shorten several songs. As such, I would rate this album with seven out of ten. Since this rating is not yet possible, I will round it down to three stars.