IN HOC SIGNO

I probably have more fingers than I have Italian prog rock albums. But that doesn't mean I don't like what I have. One reason why I don't have more is simply that I fear that once I tap into RPI, I may well set myself up for yet even further spending of obscene amounts of money on buying albums. The day may yet come, however. Wallet, watch out!

Well, I may not have many albums and so my opinion of Ingranaggi della Valle's "In Hoc Signo" is by no means based on an extensive background of Italian prog. However, I am familiar with some of the most important classics as well as some more modern material, and I can honestly say that this album here really treads solidly in the line of the classic era of Italian prog. This is a very seventies-sounding album, complete with organ solos, rock guitar, violin, jazzy rhythms, and songs of unpredictable turns and time signature twists. Ingranaggi della Valle has taken all the best lessons in the RPI text books and masterfully created their own classic sound album for the year 2013.

One thing that can always win me over is some pretty hard rocking guitar sound in a non-hard rock context. The early seventies was good for that: organ and hard rock guitar doing a pas de deux to jazz influenced rhythms and drumming. This album so wonderfully revives that sound and style of writing and performing. Add violin as a key instrument and thoughts may go to Premiata Forneria Marconi classic works. There may be more lurking among those serpentine guitar solos and rolling organ keys. "Fuga da Amman" brings to mind some Allan Holdsworth and Bill Bruford in places; "Via Egnatia" draws me back to early seventies Pink Floyd; and the intro to "Jangala Mem" reminds me of classic Saga. "Masqat" really encapsulates that seventies jazz fusion instrumental prog jam style. But then again, much of the album does.

I can only say that to my ears, the music of this album is exquisitely written and performed, a very wonderful blend of classic seventies Italian prog and late seventies jazz fusion. It's definitely worth a four-star rating and I'd not hesitate to suggest a five-star rating to anyone who really adores Italian prog.