SPETTACOLO ANNULLATO

'Spettacolo Annulato' was my first experience with Sithonia, and I still remember how fairly impressed I was (and still am) with this enormous amount of melodic creativity, clever ues of textures and counterpoints, emotional richness, and lots of energy in the performances. Sithonia's ensamble incarnates the inheritance of 76-79 era BMS, Corte dei Miracoli, Locanda delle Fate, and some classic Genesis, too, making a modernized approach the overall progressive result of these combined influences. The presence of keybiards is somehow predominant, but not overwhelming - beside some occasional soloing, the elaboration of symphonic layers and constant countermelodies seems to be the general rule for the use of keyboards in this band, leaving most of the lead parts to guitarrist extraordinaire Magni, a player who can travel easily from PFM's Mussida to Hackett to some delirious Fripp, depending on the demands of the pertinent musical motive. The rhythm section is also oustanding, showing a great technique and capability to sustain the sonic energy displayed by their fellow instrumentalists. Last but not least, Giovaninni uses his vocal range with a genine sensibility, something like Corte dei Miracoli's vocalist, but more virile and less melodramatic. The opening suite 'La Recita del Silenzio' is a gem in itself, and apparently the nucleus of this album, since a couple of other tracks revisit some of its motives. 'Merce!' is the most peculiar section, since it bears a definite humour perfectly blended in a garden party-meets-circus ambience (vocal impersonations included) - this section can be loosely described as a hybrid of Genesis' 'Willow Farm' and any Banco's merry tune. Other highlights of this album are tracks 4 and 6 (the use of tempo shifts is so gentñe that it makes it hard to believe, really), as well as the closing instrumental, a real killer full of different ideas that Sithonia merge with incredible ease and huge exquisitness. The abrupt stop at the lead singer's shout is a weird, yet effective climax. Of all sung tracks, 'Panolino' is the least special, since it finds the band travelling on the border between symphonic prog and pop-rock, but still you can find some old fashioned progressive complexity in some passages. Track 3 is a precious instrumental that reprises motifs used in the suite: guitarists Magni leaves momentarily his stringed instrument in favour of an extra third keyboard. Definitely, "Spetatacolo Annulato" is a brilliant opus of the Italian progressive scene of the 90s.