IL PIANETA DEGLI UOMINI LIBERI

Multi-instrumentalist Marco Grieco, recording under the name MacroMarco, shows here on his first (and as of this writing only) album, that he does have potential. It was long after listening to the album that I learned that he was the only performer credited on it. His production is fine, if not occasionally overblown (but if you frequently read my reviews, you might know that I like overblown).

On the first third of the album, or so, the songs bear a strong resemblance to the later, dry Pink Floyd (Waters-less, get it?). There is a similarity to that smooth but spacy sound of the last two PF releases. Grieco's voice on these tracks even sounds somewhat like a mixture of Waters and Gilmour. These, to me are the better tracks on the album.

The remainder of the album veers more towards a Peter Gabriel-like sound. The verses tend toward the melodic simplicity that Gabriel used from the album "So" and later, while the breaks have the big, and slightly interesting sound of Gabriel's secong album. It's interesting, but not terribly compelling.

For the entire album, it may be a joy for the Gabriel fan, but to me it only rates 2.5 stars. Rounded down.