LA TORRE DELL'ALCHIMISTA

By coincidence I just noticed that I have reviewed the live CD USA .. You Know? (2005) and the new studio album entitled Neo (2007) but not La Torre Dell'Alchimista their eponymous debut CD from. The focus in the nine melodic and tasteful compositions is on the keyboards by Keith Emerson aficionado Mutti Michele, he makes impression with fluent Hammond organ runs, flashy synthesizer flights and sparkling Grand piano work along delicate play on the ubiquitous Mellotron and distinctive Fender Rhodes electric piano. Another omnipresent but less dominant instrument is the flute, at some moments evoking early Camel. Other references in La Torre Dell'Alchimista their sound are ELP, Banco, Trace and even Supersister because of the more jazzy approach in teh final track Acquario. A promising debutalbum but I miss a bit tension and refinement, this band has to mature in writing compositions, the music depends too much on the splendid keyboard parts.