COME IL SEGUITARE DELLE STAGIONI

One of the drawbacks with album reviews is that while we can share our opinions about music we can never share the actual experience of listening to it; the music simply exists and will have unique meaning to each and every individual. Anyone that knows anything about my taste will understand that melodic symphonic prog is my jam and, for me, listening to Il Castello di Atlante is a bit like overdosing on the music of my youth. These guys are clearly less than strangers with Genesis and Il Castello share the same flair for melody, but at the same time they're not hindered by any kind of musical conformism.

'Come il Seguitare delle Stagione' isn't my favourite album by the band but it does exemplify the character of Il Castello as it features their usual intricate interplay of guitar, keys and violin. This is very much an album for daydreaming, for withdrawing from hard reality and immersing yourself in extravagant fantasy. It features a collection of contradictory yet complementary pieces, with four grand-manner epics interspersed with three short instrumentals that are like poignant little elegies. As such it is alternately 'out there' and 'in here'; or it could be successively gregarious and solitary if we equate the music with our prevailing spirits.

Those who prefer to crack the hard shell of the wild and experimental RPI may be indifferent to this album. However if you're looking for the security of sumptuous textures and romantic melodies you'll surely relish this album's timeless beauty.