MELOS

The Neapolitan society is very particular, full of paradoxes. Wonderful places, a lot of art, a cultured population that lives within many crimes. In particular the music scene is full of creativity. I'm Italian, but only recently I have discovered that there is even a Neapolitan Scale!!! In short, we can say literally "a world apart". It would probably be possible create a sub-genre in Prog Rock, characterized by the Neapolitan bands with Progressive and jazzy tones.

Among many bands, especially in RPI, surely emerge those bands that have created only one album, leaving for the rest of life in the imagination of the listener, unforgettable melodies and a hint of dissatisfaction for the only one prog gem.

The talent of these one-shot band's musicians is often forgotten, probably for little know names. But here the band formations is very impressive. The charming and powerful voice of Gianluigi Di Franco goes well with incredible guitar of Corrado Rustici, brother of Danilo who plays guitar whit most popular Osanna. Unfortunately Gianluigi Di Franco died in 2005.

It's hard not to be impressed by the attention to details. Starting with the cover in which there is a pack of canned brain. On original LP cover is possible to open this box under which appear the members of the band locked by spider's web. The band's name CERVELLO already offers an idea of their creativity. They want to recreate atmospheres of the past, of an old Greece lost, with magical and mysterious moments. But the surprise is when the album plays! In the opening track "Il Canto Del Capro" (the sing of the goat) you can feel clearly a kind of black magic, as if a pagan ritual was in front of your eyes. While the 4/5 of the band are playing the wind instruments (flutes for most) a bleak chorus sometimes as bewitched, falls into the scene: "Magica Danza Ci Porterà Il Seme, Vivido Intruglio Disseta La Mente, Magica Danza Ci Porterà Il Seme". (magic dance will bring to us the seed, vivid concoction quenches the mind, magic dance will bring to us the seed) WOW! A shiver down to the spine.

Other songs are spectacular. Di Franco's voice reaches the culmination in "Trittico" (triptyque / maybe mean an Opera in three parts) after a soft dreamy intro. Sophisticated time changes introduce an increasing singing with haunting guitars until come back again gentle chorus. And when the track appears to be over a galloping rhythm with an unforgettable "LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA" concludes the song. As two lighthouses the voice and the guitar light up the mind in "Scinsione (T.R.M)", which at 4th minute is characterized by a wonderful crazy guitar. To embellish the album there's "Melos", (melodic aspect of a song in Greek time) 5 minutes of musical essence with a superb guitar solo.

"Galassia" (galaxy) is my favorite song. I'm a dreamer and when listening is at the end of the album it's as if I started to wander in dense universe, accompanied by that hypnotic voice, and then be awoken by the redundant final rhythm. It's always the old unmistakable emotion, truly unique! This track, their structure and the fact that it is toward the end of the album reminds me "The Fountain Of Salmacis" by GENESIS. It's an innate analogy that my mind always do.The album ends with the strange "Affresco" (fresco / a painting technique) that as in a painting sets this ancient journey into the Greece of Gods, of the sacred and profane, lulled by ritual symphonies.

One of the most significant album of RPI. A tribute to human intelligence and art. A unique album in the history of Prog Rock destined to remain a solitary gem.

5 Stars