COME IN UN'ULTIMA CENA

BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO seems to go through an overproductive period around mid- 70's,as they released no less than three albums only in 1976!But unlike ''Garofano rosso'',the full BANCO band is back on track for ''Come in un'ultima cena'' (and its English version) with Di Giacomo again behind the microphone.The expectations were really high I have to say...

The traces of the uneven ''Garofano rosso'' were not totally kept in the closet,as this work sounds a lot like the previous one but with Di Giacomo on vocals and in good shape.The massive keyboard attacks and the grandiosity of their early works are left behind for good,but noone can deny the talent of this band.The Jazz element are a basic ingredient of the new BANCO phase and the presented style twists from Symphonic to Jazz Rock in a blink of an eye.The general atmosphere alternates from smooth jazzy passages and also funky moments to sudden breaks and complex interplays.The problem is that this switch does not necessarily work fine for every track,not to mention the total absence of the old grand epics.Some of them are great but a few are rather confusing...but the final taste is positive.

For me this album marked the goodbye to the old raw symphonic BANCO sound and the start of a new era,combining elements from different styles.The talent and chemistry of the members achieved to create a nice work overall,not a surprise IMO,but I totally miss their early years' compositions.