LINEA DI CONFINE

Randone is the musical brainchild and multi-instrumentalist Nicola Randone. Their previous effort Hybla Act 1 sounded wonderful with exciting vintage keyboards (by Nicola and legend Beppe Crovella), but to me a bit too fragmentic in some tracks.

On this successor from 2009 Nicola Randone and Beppe Crovella deliver again a splendid vintage keyboard sound in more mellow oriented progrock:

a lush symphonic rock sound with Hammond organ and a violin-Mellotron solo in the opener S.I.B. (Prologo),

a pleasant blend of soft Hammond , warm Italian vocals, soaring Mellotron and finally a howling guitar solo in Promesse,

a slow rhythm with acoustic guitar runs and classical orchestrations in the titletrack,

Grand piano, intense vocals and majestic choir-Mellotron eruptions in Preghiera Di Un Re

and impressive violin ? and choir-Mellotron waves in Ritorno.

But don't get the impression that this is music to get asleep because on the right moments Randone delivers some surprising and exciting breaks like in Speranze (catchy synthesizers and fiery guitar), Buona Notte (cheerful climate and female vocals) and Ritorno (blistering guitar work and delicate choir-Mellotron). My highlight on this pleasant album is the final composition Epilogo: it starts mellow with acoustic rhythm guitar, fragile electric guitar and wonderful piano, then the music slowly culminates in a compelling grand finale featuring breathtaking vintage keyboards and a sensitive guitar solo with howling runs, this is Prog Heaven!

My rating: 3,5 star