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DISTILLERIE DI MALTO

Rock Progressivo Italiano • Italy


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Distillerie di Malto biography
DISTILLERIE DI MALTO (DdM for short) is a new brand from Italy who cleverly combine many elements and styles to create interesting progressive music that most newer bands exhibit. The music of this band is clearly influenced by early 70's progressive rock, with all it's complex rhythms and long instrumental passages. Their compositions are vey nostalgic and melodic Italian prog rock sounds with some influences from symphonic prog bands such as GENESIS ("Selling.../Wind.../Trick..."-era), CAMEL ("Mirage"), KING CRIMSON and VDGG, but done in an original way. If you are fans of symphonic prog and Italian prog, then DdM should appeal your tastes.

"Il Manuale Dei Piccoli Discouri" is the band's self produced debut album. Nice rock guitar tones and retro-keyboards intertwined with good amounts of flutes are present in equal parts. The rhythm section offers an interesting and very variety work, and it shows a very high qualities. The lyrics are written in english and italian. I highly recommended this CD to prog lovers of good, symphonic British bands and Italian flavour (PFM & ASGARD).

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DISTILLERIE DI MALTO top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.65 | 28 ratings
Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi
2001
4.19 | 33 ratings
Suono!
2013

DISTILLERIE DI MALTO Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

5.00 | 2 ratings
LiveIn Temple Bar
1999

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DISTILLERIE DI MALTO Reviews


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 Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi by DISTILLERIE DI MALTO album cover Studio Album, 2001
3.65 | 28 ratings

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Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi
Distillerie di Malto Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by andrea
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Distillerie di Malto took shape in 1988 in Ortona, in the province of Chieti. After a long period spent playing covers, composing and honing their skills, in 2001 the band finally managed to self-release an interesting debut album entitled "Il manuale dei piccoli discorsi" (The handbook of the little speeches) with a line up featuring Fabrizio Pellicciaro (vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, recorder), Fabiano Cudazzo (keyboards), Marco Angelone (electric and nylon-string guitar), Maurizio Di Tollo (drums, percussion, vocals) and Salvatore Marchesano (bass) plus the guest Luca Latini (flute). It's a labour of love, largely influenced by seventies sounds but not without a touch of originality. The art cover, that in some way tries to depict the musical content, reproduces a famous tableau by René Magritte, "La condition humaine", 1933, one of the painter's earliest treatments of the theme of window painting and of painting within a painting...

The opener "Allegro con brio" starts with a dramatic crescendo that leads to a more dynamic part and ends with a short vocal part sung in English that conjures up the image of a young woman sitting on the legs of a stranger, still waiting to find the right man... Then comes the long, complex "Phoebus" that every now and again could recall Genesis and Gentle Giant. It's sung in English and tells in music and words the dark story of a dwarf that kills for vengeance and runs away but, in my opinion, this track is heavily penalised by vocals that here are not completely up to the task...

The dreamy atmospheres of the instrumental "Melodia di fine autunno" (Melody of late autumn) lead to the reflective "Aria e vento" (Air and wind), an intricate piece that, as you can guess from the subtitle, is about the doubts you can experience when confronted with the disclosure of your own anxieties. Confess or not confess you sins? Can you trust other people and open your heart feeling a sense of freedom or is it better keeping your secrets well locked up in a tower without windows nor walls? Sometimes it's a hard choice and maybe you'd better take it easy and follow your fate... This time the vocals are in Italian and succeed in delivering a strong emotional impact.

The last track, "5/5/1555", is a suite that recalls Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and is divided into three parts. It stages an imaginary dialogue, set on May 5, 1955, between the duke of Parma and his son about the combined marriage with the daughter of the king of France. The young man is in love with another girl, but the father tries to push him to take a decision with his brain and not with his heart. The first part is subtitled "Mattina" (Morning) and here we can listen to the duke telling his son to bury his bravery and to keep quiet his pride. The son is bewildered, confused, he can't think... The second part is subtitled "Pomeriggio" (Afternoon) and is completely instrumental, it's up to the your imagination figuring out the troubles of the young man who has to choose between love and power... The third part is subtitled "Sera" (Evening) and it's where the son makes up his mind: although he cries for a while, his love slowly fades away in the name of the reason of the state...

On the whole, a good album that deserves a try!

 Suono! by DISTILLERIE DI MALTO album cover Studio Album, 2013
4.19 | 33 ratings

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Suono!
Distillerie di Malto Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars This Italian band has been around since the eighties but they didn't release a studio album until 2001, this is the followup that was released in 2013. Most will agree that they have really upped their game with this recording. It's so cool too that the original drummer and flute player were invited back as guests on this one and you will see them and the rest of the band in the picture beside their bio here.

"Prefazione" is a very short intro of fast paced piano as vocal melodies join in. This is an intro to "Il Guardiano" where the same melody continues but with a fuller sound. Vocals too and everytime the vocals stop the flute takes over until before 2 minutes where both join the soundscape and that's my favourite part of the song. Themes are repeated and we also get some guitar. "Il Suono Seducente Del Sogno Pt. 1" is relaxed to start as the flute joins in. Reserved vocals after 1 1/2 minutes. Beautiful stuff especially the background synths. It kicks in after 2 1/2 minutes with passionate vocals as the contrasts continue. The tempo picks up around 4 minutes in and this is quite catchy. Some nice guitar 5 1/2 minutes in as he solos followed by flute only 6 minutes in but it's brief. Some heavier guitar is next followed by another calm. "Nemesi" has outbursts of power early on then it stays fairly powerful with some organ helping out as the vocals join in. Man he can sing! A calm with piano before 2 1/2 minutes and I really like the drum work here as well. Another calm before 4 minutes and I love the melancholic synths. Check out the piano/ vocal section before 6 1/2 minutes.

"Rovescia L'immaginazione E Scorpi La Realta" builds from the get-go, the guitar and drums really standout. A calm with piano after 1 1/2 minutes then it builds again as contrasts continue. Love the guitar 5 1/2 minutes in to the end. A pretty cool instrumental track. "Il Suono Seducentre Del Sogno Pt. 2" opens with guitar that I really like the tone of along with some prominent bass as it builds. Vocals 1 1/2 minutes in with strummed guitar as it settles but then it kicks back in. Plenty of synths follow then a calm arrives 3 1/2 minutes in. "Lorca E Dali" hits the ground running but then settles fairly quickly with synths, a beat and more. An enjoyable section. Spoken words arrive after 3 minutes until they turn into singing 4 1/2 minutes in then it turns heavier and kicks into gear a minute later. The guitar soars before 9 1/2 minutes then the synths lead before the guitar returns and both lead the way. "The Sun" is a short tune that opens with a sample of someone driving up and parking before getting out as the piano and acoustic guitar take over. Laid back vocals join in then it ends with the person getting back into the car and leaving. A ballad-like track.

This is a very enjoyable album that pushes all the right buttons for me when it comes to to RPI. A solid 4 stars is certainly deserved.

 Suono! by DISTILLERIE DI MALTO album cover Studio Album, 2013
4.19 | 33 ratings

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Suono!
Distillerie di Malto Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

5 stars Formed back in late Eighties in Ortona, in the province of Chieti, yet releasing their debut album in 2001, Italian band Distillerie di Malto return 13 years later in 2013 for the follow-up album `Suono!' The band offer an unpredictable and devil-may-care take on the classic Seventies sound of vintage Italian Prog, especially the schizophrenic quality of the early Banco albums. While all the symphonic prog, psychedelic touches and expected classical theatrical flourishes are accounted for, a welcome wildness and rough-around-the-edges charm runs through the entire disc, a quality that instantly makes it stand apart from many other polished and pristine RPI works of the current era. The band also boasts one of the most charismatic singers of modern RPI in the form of Fabrizio Pelliciaro, whose raspy drawl is incredibly effective and moving. There's plenty of ravishing acoustic/electric interplay throughout the album, the music full of aching beauty with gentle melancholy.

After a magical twinkling of piano and panning dreamy signing harmonies introduction, `Il Guardiano' races back and forth between wild electric sections and thoughtful acoustic passages, often twisting deliciously together. It instantly leaps to life with dazzling piano, sprightly drumming and darting flute, all those usual classic vintage Italian prog trademarks! Singer Fabrizio has a coarse but sympathetic voice that flows between rollicking lively acoustic strums and tasty moments of electric guitar bite, with the band leaping through a rapid-fire range of tempos with a beautiful building drama and sense of urgency. Part one of `Il Suono Seducentre Del Sogno' offers lonely saxophone and synth weirdness with a delicate mysterious shimmering electric piano outro that is simply sublime. `Nemesi' opens playfully with devilish grinding electric guitar twists, loopy synths and puckering bass, but quickly Hammond ripples and heavy grooving riffs give way to a sprinkling of classical piano drama and a wounded croon with moments of Genesis-like regal pomp.

`Rovescia...' is an effortlessly cool instrumental piece, crammed with relentless up-tempo bursts of snarling groovy heavy guitars over forceful synth waves, with a sneaky jazz piano rumination in the middle. `Il Suono...' returns for a second part, with murmuring bass, warm acoustic guitar and a nice serrated quality to the electric guitar throughout. The piano middle is oddly creeping before plenty of back and forth solo duelling between the players. Thirteen minute epic `Lorca E Dali' is the highlight of an already incredible album. The first few minutes drift by in a dreamy haze of delicate piano and floating ethereal synths behind spoken word passages, soothing yet sombre. The piece quickly turns quite deranged and disorientating in the middle, with psychedelic unravelling synth spirals and maddening guitar twists. Peppy colourful bubbling synth runs and scorching triumphant guitar soloing returns the track to uplifting hopefulness to close on. The album then finishes on a brief acoustic guitar/piano ballad `The Sun', strangely sung in English.

Not only does `Suono' offer incredibly strong song-writing and thrilling instrumental arrangements, there's a refreshing leave-it-alone quality to the production that retains many welcome rough edges. While it contains all the theatrical drama and swooning sophistication expected of Italian progressive releases, there are so many moments of dark impossible beauty, a creeping sense of unease lurking throughout the work, giving it some grit and edge. It just may be one of the best modern Italian released of the last few years. Let's hope it doesn't take Distillerie di Malto another thirteen years to deliver their next album, but if the results would be as good as what they've presented on `Suono!', then it would truly be worth the wait!

Five stars for a modern RPI stunner.

Special thanks to Prog Archives member Sagichim who constantly hounded me into getting this title! Better late than never!

 Suono! by DISTILLERIE DI MALTO album cover Studio Album, 2013
4.19 | 33 ratings

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Suono!
Distillerie di Malto Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by Windhawk
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Italian band DISTELLERIE DI MALTO (DDM hereinafter) was formed back in 1988, and if I have understood their history correctly, they started out playing cover material for a while before they started to create their own music. They released their debut album "Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi" back in 2001. Following a creative process that has spanned more than a decade, they released their second studio album "Suono!" through Musea Records towards the end of 2013.

"Suono!" is a production that appears to be made specifically for those with a taste for the brand of music described as Rock Progressivo Italiano by a specific subset of progressive rock fans. The songs on the album incorporate aspects from folk, symphonic and heavy prog; there's also room for a few jazzy details at times, and the songs have a certain timeless flavor to them that appears to be oriented back to the age when progressive rock dominated the airwaves to a much greater extent than today. A well made specimen of its kind, and not surprisingly, I'd recommend this production to those who do favor artists commonly sorted under the Italian Progressive Rock description.

 Suono! by DISTILLERIE DI MALTO album cover Studio Album, 2013
4.19 | 33 ratings

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Suono!
Distillerie di Malto Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by andrea
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Le Distillerie di Malto come from Ortona, in the province of Chieti, and began life in the late eighties playing covers of prog rock bands such as Jethro Tull, Genesis or King Crimson. In 2001 they self released an interesting d'but album featuring original compositions, Il manuale dei piccoli discorsi. In 2014, after a long hiatus, le Distillerie di Malto came finally back with a brand new album released on the French label Musea Records and titled Suono! (Sound!). The current line up features Marco Angelone (guitar), Fabiano Cudazzo (keyboards), Alessio Palizzi (drums), Fabrizio Pellicciaro (vocals, guitar) and Giuliano Torelli (bass) but two former members, Maurizio Di Tollo (drums) and Luca Latini (flute) contributed to the recording sessions and are credited as special guests. The final result of their work is absolutely worth listening to and I'm sure that Italianprog lovers will appreciate it.

The opener 'Prefazione' is just a short instrumental intro with a mystical atmosphere that leads to the following 'Il guardiano' (The keeper), a beautiful track that deals with environmental issues. The music and lyrics depict men ravaging the banks of lakes and rivers while Mother Nature, as for magic, starts to cry. There are new dreams, new hands at work and new faces, then pains and tears as the seasons change and rage rises. The soul of the keeper of this injured Earth is in fire, the air is polluted, the trees are dying... There's nothing to do, men are prisoners of their greediness and they will never be free without any respect for their environment.

The long, complex 'Il suono seducente del sogno' (The seducing sound of dream) is an excellent track that deals, as you can guess, with music and dreams... 'Every dream comes to life in a magic castle / When the day will come, go in and don't close the door / You will find spears and shields, cold blood and mercy, the boldness of the heroes and a soaring music...'. The magic castle of music and dreams is a nice metaphor for the need of a shelter from the daily grind, but beware! The charm of those magic sounds is dangerous and you could risk to become nothing but a slave of your dreams while reality looms outside.

Then comes 'Nemesi' (Nemesis), a track full of dark energy that was inspired by Greek mythology. Nemesis was a goddess representing the idea of divine retribution and this track tries to capture in music and words the spirit of the righteous vengeance by depicting a loveless sense of justice without light inside, cold and cynical... 'It is useless to anneal your strength / A body is nothing but a heap of snow / It melts in the first sunshine / To jump higher, to run faster / What does really matter is the soul...'.

'Rovescia l'immaginazione e scopri la realt' (Reverse your imagination and discover the reality) is a beautiful instrumental where the members of the band can showcase all their musicianship and where frenzied passages alternates with calm, dreamy sections, heavy guitar riffs with surging organ rides. It leads to the second part of 'Il suono seducente del sogno (parte II)' where the light, gauzy mist of a never ending dream lays on everything... 'This music plays inside me / I will never run away from this dream...'.

'Lorca e Dal' is a long, complex track inspired by poetry and painting. It features ethereal atmospheres and narrative vocals where words are just touches of colour on the evocative musical texture. Golden angels drink your soul while your eyes are burnt by dreams, you look for a meaning but you can't find a clue, you can't find the key to gates of dream and you get lost... The following 'The Sun' is a short acoustic track sung in English that closes the album with a mystical mood and in some way takes you back to the starting point.

On the whole, a very good album. Welcome back Distillerie di Malto!

 Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi by DISTILLERIE DI MALTO album cover Studio Album, 2001
3.65 | 28 ratings

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Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi
Distillerie di Malto Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars From the small city of Ortona hails this nice Italian group, established in 1988 by keyboardist Fabiano Cudazzo, guitarist/singer Fabrizio Pellicciaro and guitarist Marco Anselone.They started as a cover band of British Prog groups like Jethro Tull, King Crimson and Genesis, finding their new drummer in 1993 in the face of Maurizio Di Tollo and two years later bassist Salvatore Marchesani joined the band.The last to enter the picture was flutist Luca Latini.With the the help of another bassist, Giuliano Torelli, they released their self-released debut ''Il Manuale dei piccoli discorsi'' in 2001.

With a very retro-sounding style, Distillerie di Malto pay a tribute to the Classic Prog bands of the 70's, coming both from the U.K. and their homecountry, in five long and complex compositions.Actually the first pair of tracks are also sung in English with a very KING CRIMSON-like sound supported by mascular synthesizers and dominating organ runs, next to the reasonable complicated guitar parts.The delicate melodies, piano interludes and flute lines though are more of the Italian school of Progressive Rock aka PFM and BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO.Very dense, professionally executed and intricate material with jazzy and symphonic underlines.The same mood, albeit in a smoother style, appears in the excellent instrumental ''Melodia di fine autunno'', which has a very CAMEL-like ending section with a nice combination of synths and guitars.Italian vocals appear for the first time in ''Aria e vento'', which is very close to other Italian Retro Prog groups such as CONSORZIO ACQUA POTABILE, SITHONIA and NOTABENE.Dramatic semi-symphonic Progressive Rock with endless changing tempos and plenty of thematic shifts, based on jazzy guitar interludes, evident Classical influences and powerful keyboard parts, performed in organ and synths.The closest it gets to BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO and similar sounding Italian acts of the past.''5/5/1555'' is a perfect example of how Progressive Rock can be melodic and captivating at the same time.Atmospheric music, this time with more obvious folky touches, changing between laid-back passages, frenetic synth exercises, rural flute-based textures and grandiose guitar solos.Absolutely great.

Fabulous album from the land of prog miracles.Challenging and rich Symphonic Rock/Fusion with numerous instrumental highlights.Absolutely recommended.

 Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi by DISTILLERIE DI MALTO album cover Studio Album, 2001
3.65 | 28 ratings

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Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi
Distillerie di Malto Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by Sagichim
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Distillerie Di Malto are a six piece band from Italy. The band was formed slowly in 1988 and had some line up changes during the 90's, but it wasn't until 2001 that they manage to record their debut album Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi. For some reason DDM is quite forgotten and are not getting enough mention when discussing modern italian bands. Another thing is the band's inclusion for Crossover Prog which I can understand for some extent, but still I don't think is the right spot for them and have always regarded them as pure RPI, this classification could distract RPI fans from getting this, and it most certainly does worth it.

Aside from the clear Italian touch, there are other influences as well which makes their music rather special. One thing that immediately comes to mind is the resemblance for Israeli band Sanhedrin (which have released their album much later) which automatically indicates influences from Camel, this is most evident in the guitar department. DDM includes two guitar players which is hard to determine who is doing what, because they are both playing in the same style. The playing is often kind of slow, conscious and clear even when the music has an upbeat rhythm, this reminds me of Latimer or Franco Falsini from Sensations' Fix. This is actually something that really characterizes the band's style and I like every time they are doing it, but the times when they get it perfectly right, it is really gorgeous. Vocals doesn't play the biggest role here but they do appear in every song except for one instrumental, don't ask me why, but the band decided to include both english and italian vocals. The album includes five tracks, the first couple of songs are in english and the last two are in italian, and like in many cases the band's original language sounds best here.

The music is most certainly progressive and has a lot to do with the more modern RPI bands rather than the 70's italian symphonic bands, although they do sound like Banco sometimes. DDM are not trying to win you over by dazzling solos or fast interplay between guitars and keys, the main focus here is on the melodies and good ideas. Every moment along the road sounds like a band effort rather than leaning on one extraordinary player, it seems they were all involved in writing the music because it is all balanced very well. There aren't many actual solos here but there are a lot of leads both from keys and guitars, so you can't really complain that there's something missing. The keyboards here are also really tastefuly done, no cheesy sounds and always has cool and groovy ideas.

Four out of five tracks here are long compositions. In every song the band successfully is taking one main idea and develop it or change it, once again everything is very well done. Although all tracks are equally good, the highlights here are "Aria e vento" and 5/5/1555 (is that a date?). The first starts with an amazing guitar lead which goes to a typical italian verse, great guitar there too. It calms down and sounds like Locanda Delle Fate and then goes back to that amazing guitar lead opener again. Few minutes before the end we get a Wakeman/Howe interlude and a cool guitar solo ends it, very good stuff.

I hope more people would check this wonderful album, it would appeal mostly to symphonic fans or RPI lovers. I know there is supposed to be a second album (not listed in PA) called Suono but I never came across it, just heard some samples. This is another excellent addition to my italian collection, 4 stars.

 Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi by DISTILLERIE DI MALTO album cover Studio Album, 2001
3.65 | 28 ratings

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Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi
Distillerie di Malto Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by toroddfuglesteg

4 stars The one and only album from this very interesting Italian band with the very unusual name.

This is a crossover album as in a blend of many prog rock genres. Their base is in Rock Progressivo Italiano and I personally regard them as a Rock Progressivo Italiano band. I think the Rock Progressivo Italiano fans is missing out on something they would love by this classification.

Rant over. Forget the last two lines above. I continue with......

Distillerie Di Malta's music is a distilled product of Rock Progressivo Italiano, Gentle Giant's eclectic prog, Camel and their symphonic prog, Return To Forever and their fusion and King Crimson's world. The music is very melodic, majestic, pastoral and lingering. It is also mainly instrumental. It is based on guitars, tangents, bass, drums and some guest instruments like flute. The few vocals on this album is also great and Fabrizio Pellicciaro is a superb vocalist.

All songs here are great and in the bracket "all fans of Rock Progressivo Italiano wet dreams". The band gives King Crimson and Gentle Giant an Italian heritage and identity if you understand what I mean. I love this blend of eclectic and Rock Progressivo Italiano on this album. A perfect blend. A couple of killer tracks would had elevated this album to classic status. But it is a close call.

A truly great album which deserve a lot of attention.

4 stars

 Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi by DISTILLERIE DI MALTO album cover Studio Album, 2001
3.65 | 28 ratings

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Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi
Distillerie di Malto Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by Prog-jester
Prog Reviewer

4 stars 3.5 stars rounded to 4

Well, this is unusual album. It starts pretty weak - the opener (mostly instrumental) is nice (begins in a dark CRIMSO way, but later turns into great IQ-like 6/8 thing), but the following track ,despite rhythmical and groovy verse, has pointlessly long mid-part, which spoils the whole song. I guess somebody told them that any Prog album MUST have a pointless "Moonchild"-like instrumental meandering...so here they go. Besides vocals are in English (as I understood), weak and unsured. Another one, fully instrumental, has some pleasant melodies in GENESIS way,but having more Italic atmosphere this time. "Finally they sound good" I thought. Hell no! EVEN BETTER! "Aria e vento" is the best track here - it starts like a ballad, crushes into breath-taking climax somewhere in the middle and then turns into energetic GENESIS-like hit...amazing! The last track, also long and complex, has great main theme in CRIMSO/VDGG mood - very dark and non-Italian again, but great after all. A nice surprise for all Sympho-Prog lovers - DDM is a good and promising band, and their album, despite its low quality, is worth of checking. RECOMMENDED!!!

 Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi by DISTILLERIE DI MALTO album cover Studio Album, 2001
3.65 | 28 ratings

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Il Manuale dei Piccoli Discorsi
Distillerie di Malto Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by erik neuteboom
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Distillerie Di Malto is a Italian five-piece band that includes two guitar players and a keyboardist, on the last track completed by a flute player. This debut-CD is dedicated to René Magritte, one of my favorite surrealistic/magic realistic painters. On the first track "Allegro Con Brio" (5.56) the climate is ominous and ambient, then a fluent rhythm featuring organ and guitar follows, this sounds very obvious as the lovely Seventies Italian Progrock Scene! Enjoy the dynamic music with fiery electric guitar and wonderful keyboardplay. The next song is "Phoebus" (9.24), first a bit experimental including xylophone, repetetive bass and electric guitar with ints from early King Crimson. Then the moods shifts from up-tempo with mellow organ, fiery electric guitar and flute to dreamy with classical guitar and flute and atmospheric with flute, hi-hats and piano, very alternating. In "Melodia Di Fine Autunno" (8.42) it starts with a compelling climate that gradually grows to more bombastic, interfered by more mellow pieces until a long and sumptuous finale, featuring lush keyboards, harder-edged guitar and a dynamic rhythm- section. The next composition is the longest one entitled "Aria E Vento" (13.24), again a very alternating track: compelling with twanging guitars and great keyboards like sparkling piano, moving with a wonderful guitar solo in the vein of Hackett/Latimer, bombastic with organ and even anl interlude with classical guitar and flute. The music often evokes early Genesis, wonderful! The final song "5/5/1555" (11.32) starts with xylophone (like the second track) and electric guitar, followed by some sensational, mid-Emerson inspired synthesizer soli and lots of varied climates featuring strong Italian vocals, howling electric guitar and dreamy flute. The 'grand finale' delivers a moving atmosphere with a splendid build-up guitar solo, supported by lush keyboards, prog heaven! This CD has hints from Genesis (twanging guitars and organ), Camel (guitarwork) and King Crimson (the more complex and experimental parts) and contains five elaborate and tasteful coloured compositions, AN IMPRESSIVE DEBUT!


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