UNA VITA UNA BALENA BIANCA E ALTRE COSE

I would start to say a big thank you to Finnforest and PA for the interview and bringing Stefano Testa and this album back from the obscurity. I think this album will rate pretty high on anyone's list of this year's biggest re-discovery.

Books like reviews has been written about this album since it's re-discovery so I will be brief.

This album is a very poetic, mellow album with it's roots in Italian folk rock. Or actually; folk music like in the old ballads format. The main instruments are the accoustic instruments like accoustic guitars and flute. It is still listed as Italian Progressive Rock, but both Folk Prog and Eclectic Prog would had been OK for me. Still; it is as Italian as parma ham & cheese. And as delicious too....... Sluuuurp ! This album is a feast of good melodies, themes and songs. The vocals are excellent and pretty dominating in the crystal-clear sound. I did not know it was possible to make that good soundscape back in the 1970s, so I suspect the re-master is the main reason for the perfect sound the CD is furnished with. The opening track Una Vita sets the standard for the album with a mellow intro which goes into a nice folksy landscape after a while. I am not anywhere near an expert on the Italian scene, but I guess both Banco and PFM are good reference points. I still thinks both this song and the rest of the album is somewhere between folk prog, Jethro Tull and Genesis. In particular their Nursery Cryme album is not a bad reference point. Neither is Thick As A Brick too.

The quality is excellent throughout. It did take me a long time before I fell for this album though. This is not easy listening by any means. But when I got it, I really got it...... bad ! I think this album deserves it's hype and it will come high on my list of this year's best discoveries. It is highly recommended.

4 stars