ELEGIE D'INVERNO

Not prog, not neo-classical, not avant garde, not new age. Or on the contrary, if you prefer, neo-classical plus avant garde plus new age... but still minus prog sensu stricto. This unusual and charming album is partially influenced by Banco ...Di Terra (there are some obvious thematic parallels in Vivaci Acrobazie), though the 1978 Banco's orchestral album is full of dynamics, while Elegie d'Inverno sounds slightly weird and more or less slowed down, captivated, bewitched if you like, especially La Nebbia. And, unlike Banco ...Di Terra, this 'post- Contrappunto' album is played not by band plus orchestra but by small orchestra or, more precisely, chamber ensemble as a band. I think those who classify Elegie d'Inverno as modern chamber music are completely right. Surprisingly, some psychedelic tunes can be heard in the second half of La Nebbia, and being performed by chamber ensemble they sound quite piquantly. Surely the album stands by itself, and gives a reason as to say that it does not belong to prog music at all, so to contend that it widens the idea of prog music.