DIETRO L'URAGANO

During the second half of 1973 Alphataurus entered their studio to prepare the follow-up of their fantastic self-titled debut.Unfortunately due to family issues the band had to break up during the recording sessions.In 1992 Mellow Records collected the tapes of these unfinished rehearsals and released them under the title ''Dietro l'uragano''.

At the time the band performed a mostly instrumental Progressive Rock without the presence of singer Michele Bavaro and their sound was now heavily keyboard-driven with an even more symphonic sound.Actually the opening ''Ripensando e'' contains strong LE ORME influences with Classical references and long moog solos in a very haunting mood.The following ''Valigie di terra'' is a great piece of moog/organ-driven Symphonic/Heavy Rock with stronger links to the band's debut, spacey synth waves until the middle and next come somes excellent Hammond organ runs with a pounding rhythm section.''Idea incompiuta'' is a short theme with a jazzy flavor in the guitar and drum parts, followed by the 14-min. ''Claudette''.Another nice piece of keyboard-based Progressive Rock with fiery organs, good interplays, massive synthesizers and even a sweet piano theme supported by the smooth vocals of drummer Giorgio Santandrea.The ending theme of the track is Alphataurus' at their best.Grandiose, nervous synth-drenched outro with a very intense and powerful atmosphere.

While Alphataurus' debut is more of a complete work, these early rehearsals of the band indicate that a possible sophomore record would have been propably another great Italian masterpiece.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.