FAUST

1. "Preludio (Una Selva Una Storia)" (1:20) spoken voice

2. "Atto I, Scena I: Bellatrix" (5:28) gently picked acoustic guitar chords that are joined by delicate voice and church organ. Synth provides flute and strings as bass joins in. Singing becomes more theatric/operatic. He's good! (Mauro Ghilardini?) Big finish starting at 3:30 with big toms, drums, and organ beneath the soaring electric guitar. Interesting! Nice lead guitar work. (8.5/10)

3. "Atto I, Scena II: Mefistofele (8:55) impressive sound and engineering abounds except for those darned cheap 1990s keyboard synthesizers (like the ones used on COLLAGE's Moonshine). (Those strings are horrid!) But some wonderful singing (by Mauro) and outstanding guitar play from Michele Savoldelli cannot be deterred. The song meanders and sputters a few times. (17.75/20)

4. "Atto I, Scena III: Il Castello (6:52) opens as a bit of a guitar and drum showcase--like Steve Vai and Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats) playing off one another--but then devolves into a sensitive theatre piece in the second and third minutes. Some Hackett-like volume pedal work over some cool drum and organ work in the fourth turns into more Vai-like. More great vocal displays from Mauro, as well--much of it bordering on classic Italian lounge singing. (13.25/15)

5. "Atto II, Scena I: Faust (9:49) great music over which Mauro sings in German (which happens to remind me of great SYLVAN lead singer Marco Glühmann). Davide Ferrari supplies the gruff, gravelly voice of Mephistophele. More great guitar work over a bizarre "Peter Gunn" bassline section. Mauro's operatic voice really soars (as does Michele's guitar) fifth and sixth minutes--and again at the end. Love the use of the "harpsichord" in places. (17.75/20)

6. "Atto II, Scena II: La Neve (7:52) opens with a bluesier guitar style over gentler, more emotional music. Singing enters over simple soundscape of acoustic guitar arpeggi, short burst bass riff, and cymbal play, before some of the album's earlier themes begin to pronounce themselves (the bombastic Italian aria from "Bellatrix"). Two male voices trade leads before blending into one harmonized collective at the end of the third minute. Well done. Throughout guitarist Michele Savoldelli acts as the third voice. The voice of "Margaret" joins in for the final third, giving this the complete Italian operatic feel. (13.5/15)

7. "Finale (Ogni Viaggio) (4:17) more narration from Mario Bertasa, this time joined part-way in by computer piano. The real clarinet of Giuseppe Peracchi joins the barrage of cheap computer keyboard strings, etc. in the instrumental second half. Too bad for the cheap computer-generated sounds. (7.75/10)

Total Time: 44:33

Too bad this collective lacked impetus cuz they managed to produce a very impressive product here. Were it not for the terrible sounding keyboards and four minutes of Italian narration, this one might deserve masterpiece status.

B/four stars; an excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection--especially if you love RPI and well-made rock opera formats.

Share this MINSTREL review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to BrufordFreak
• Report this review (#2545080)
• Buy MINSTREL music online with PA partners
• Show all MINSTREL MP3/Stream
• Go to MINSTREL page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Faust page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for MINSTREL related discussions