IL PIANETA DEGLI UOMINI LIBERI

Macromarco is a pseudonym used by Italian singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and writer Marco Grieco.Born in Salerno in 1967, his first work was the ''Odissea Musical'', composed by him and his older brother Massimo.The next step was to record his own album along the Progressive Rock lines.''Il pianeta degli uomini liberi'' was recorded at the Sonic Temple Studio in Santa Tecla, exclusively performed by Marco Grieco on voices, guitars, bass, drums, analog/digital keyboards and traditional instruments, released in 2009 on BTF.The natural sounds heard in the album were taped between 2006 and 2008 in Greece, Hungary and Italy.

Grieco's album is a modern, sensitive and quite vocal-based discovery with a deep atmospheric background, based on expressive vocals, melodic guitars, ambiental soundcapes and well-executed keyboards.It kind of remind me of acts/artists such as DORACOR, PHIDEAUX, TIM MORSE and KENNY MITCHELL, soundwise speaking, as all lyrics are written in Italian.The album, although not extraordinary, is well-composed with memorable tunes, occasional pleasant rhythmic passages, lyrical maturity and often rich textures.Despite the very good display of acoustic soundscapes and electric leads, the long instrumental moments are rather absent, however Grieco manages to add a certain instrumental depth in an otherwise pretty vocal-oriented work with the use of Hammond organ, sax, harmonica, recorder and piano.There are still moments of powerful and bombastic musicianship with flashy keyboard themes and dynamic electric guitars, both on lead and rhythmic parts, while the album contains also plenty of nice orchestral passages or laid-back, instrumental ambiences.Grieco was clever to keep a great balance and ''Il pianeta degli uomini liberi'' appears to be a warm and pleasant listening throughout its full-hour running time.

Grieco's later work was focused on vocal arrangements and the use of voice as an instrument.His solo album ''Il pianeta degli uomini liberi'' is sure to please all fans of Neo Prog or melodic Art Rock, which love an additional Italian spice in their menu.Recommended.