ZARATHUSTRA

I have tried to like this album for soooooo long without any success, though I have never been a fan of the heavier Italian Prog school (RDM, Osanna, Museo Rosenbach,Il Balletto di Bronzo etc..) , preferring the gentler , folkier stuff. I know that I will lose a lot of my fellow colleagues respect and I know that this album borders outright veneration by many PA members but I just never found it to be melodic enough, this will be my crucifixion and I will bear my cross. Being a light drinker, I attempted red wine, tequila, port and various other undisclosable stimulants as fuel to anesthetize my senses but this seminal ISP album never rung my bell. So, this time, I decided to give it another whirl, lights dimmed, candles ablaze and distractions eliminated. Certainly, the initial keyboard driven onslaught on "L'Ultimo Uomo" is impressive, Hammond organ, Farfisa e-piano and mellotrons gushing with rage, though the raspy vocals excite me not. "Il Re di Ieri" is a dreamier passage with Pit Corradi showing off his dexterous skill on his keyboard arsenal and drummer Giancarlo Golzi powering nicely, while the guitar seems muted at times and raunchy at others. "Al di La." is average, nothing spectacular. The 6 minute + "Superuomo" is considered to be one of the crowning moments but is strangely unable to move me beyond the obvious technical qualities of the players. Good instrumental playing there is no doubt but I just can't feel the spirit, which seemed to have worked well on Le Orme's Collage or Goblin's Roller, two powerful ISP classics. "Il Tempio" does emote well as the grandiose mellotron propelled theme is majestic and deep; really love this track but its only 2 minutes and 52 seconds in length. "Degli Uomini" begins auspiciously with booming authority, the robust guitar meshing with the fiery massed keyboards and a slithering tempo that aims to please but turns rapidly into a rather mundane display that is no where near the splendor of an ELP or the romanticism of a Triumvirat, ruined by paltry vocals from Stefano "Lupo" Galifi, who does howl like a wolf (lupo). "Della Natura" is the longest track here and remains unable to shake the "Speed King" syndrome that I simply cannot get into. There is an entire pointless organ solo (yeah, you can really play) that is pure technique and no subtlety. The mid section with the dreamy e-piano and drum shuffle is genius though, ruined by some hard-rock "daboo deeboo dadada-dah" vocalizings that again impress me not. "Dell'Eterno Ritorno" is the finale and I guess I am hopelessly transfixed by my failure to adore this album. I truly am sorry but I fail to see the fantasy of this museum. I await the obvious tomatoes of ridicule. 3.5 thrusts from Zara, mostly for the reputation and the nice artwork.