LA CITTÀ SUL LAGO

This album sounds a bit harder but the band will continue to produce beautiful and melodic music. "Distanz" opens almost like "In The Cage" ("The Lamb") and it is the best of the short numbers from this album.

But there will be some marvelously symphonic songs like the sublime "Nuovo Regno". This is a pure jewel of Italian symphonic music. Well in tradition of the genre. Extraordinary and wild guitar solo combined with soft keys work. But these guitars, arghhhhhh... The highlight.

The title track is not the best song they have written. It's a long instrumental featuring partially an improv and chaotic style music. Fortunately, the second part is more a classic "Malibran" songs with nice fluting, great harmony and sweet sax.

During "In The Time", part of the vocals remind me of Peter Hammill. Dark as he could be. Very pleasantly combined with flute as well as piano. It is a bit more hectic than usual but the guitar will play a major role again and raise the quality of this song.

"Magica Attesa" is a complex instrumental. "Tull" and "Camel" atmosphere are very pleasant. There are and lots of theme changes as well. The second part is less appealing : jazzier and more rhythmy. It sounds as another song actually.

This is totally the opposite for "Le Stagione Del Re" which is a nice acoustic piece. Fully Trespass-esque. Very smooth and peaceful. Delicate flute will embellish this pastoral song. Still, it is one of my least fave from the album (excluding the short numbers of course).

The long "Nuvole Di Vetro" opens on a jazzy part but not for long. It will also turn into a very soft song, acoustic for a while. There are lots of theme changes for this very elaborate song. It is not of the caliber of "Nuovo Regno" because I'm missing the great guitar breaks. The final instrumental part falls a bit flat even if a good sax section will bring some variety.

In terms of long compositions, "On The Lightwaves" brings us back well on track with their best material. It is a complex song with powerful vocals (Hammill) is again not far away. Soft melody, great instrumental play. The riff from "Apocalypse" ("Supper's Ready") is "borrowed" for most of the finale (four minutes). But let's not blame them too much for this.

This album is just short when compared to their previous studio work. It is probably their most personal album and I would rate it seven out of ten. But not four stars. So, until further notice three stars will be my rating.

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