DETERMINAZIONE

This is the only album by this 90's Italian group Divae (pronounced Diva, with a silent e). It's a very good album. Divae uses synthesizers, Hammond and mellotron. As a matter of fact, this band has dual keyboards. The first band that comes to my mind from the 70's Italian progressive scene is Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and I guess it's not unfair to say that they have been an influence for Divae. Divae has especially very good keyboard work and in this album the keyboards definitely are the instruments that create the majority of the sound world. Despite this they don't outshine the rest of the instruments (imagine Banco or Locanda delle Fate). The voice is very good as you can usually expect from Italian bands. Sadly it looks like this album was to be their only one. This is a very good album, not among the very best of the 90's Italian groups, but a very good nevertheless.

Worth noticing is that this album includes Gianni Leone (synth and hammond) of Il Balletto di Bronzo and Lino Vairetti (vocals) of Osanna fame among a few other guest musicians. They both appear in only one track.

My favourite track is the instrumental "Gargantua bestemmia Dio e viene trasformato nel gigante di pietra posto a guardia della tana del drago di Altomonte. da dove il suo sguardo scruta l'orizzonte per l'eternita sino al dorato mare di Sibari" Huh!? It's also the track in which Gianni Leone (synthesizer & Hammond) participates.

Conclusion: Essential nineties prog in the 70's Italian tradition.