LA STAGIONE PER MORIRE

MAURO PELOSI is an Italian singer/song-writer, who released four personal albums in the 70's,a couple of them being of interest for progressive rock fans.At late 60's he collaborated with Beldisc Label,but soon he would quit due to disagreements related to his musical direction with the director.After doing his military service in 1969,he returned to Milan and he was signed by Phonogram Label.In 1972 he released his first solo output ''La stagione per morire''. PELOSI was helped by a mass of great musicians such as Gianni Leone and Gianni Stinga from ''Il balleto do bronzo'', keyboardist Mike Logan of ''The motowns'' and drummer Dave Baker from early-''Le orme''.

Despite the presence of musicians from the progressive rock scene,''La stagione per morire'' walks on the typical way and style of the Italian singer/song-writer albums with lots of lyrical moments, however it hold also enough progressive sounds.The atmosphere is really calm and pessimistic with depressive lyrics sung, of course, in Italian and Ronnie Jackson (ex- Simon Luca) dominating the compositions with his acoustic guitar...but most of the songs contain some really atmospheric keyboard work :Smooth piano passages,distinctive organ sounds and mostly light symphonic-related mellotron parts of high calibre.There are also some pastoral flute and violin parts in here,which add the album a folkish/traditional flavor.The compositions are quite strong with nice vocal arrangements and inspiring melodies.''La stagione per morire'' heads mainly towards listeners of calm,relaxing yet atmospheric Acoustic Prog,though fans of Italian Prog in general will propably like it as well.Recommended.

With the guests that Mauro has helping him on this album I was expecting a lot more.Gianni Stinga and Gianni Leone from IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO among others help out this singer who doesn't play an instrument on here. I mention this because it's hard to imagine him singing these songs in concert wthout sitting on a chair and playing acoustic guitar or something. Just because they are slow moving and melancholic tracks. By the way acoustic guitar and vocals dominate the sound. In fact i'm sure many who are into Prog-Folk would like this album.The vocals are theatrical and emotional yet he doesn't really let loose.The music is melancholic for the most part, although considering the title of the album means "A Season To Die" it's not too surprising. We get mellotron on four tracks.

The first to feature mellotron is the third track "Vent'anni Di Galera" which is the best song up to this point in my opinion. I like the organ work in that one too. "Vendero" is more upbeat at times with strummed guitar although it certainly has a sadness about it.

The title track is next and the vocals are barely sung at first as the organ floats in the background. Some mellotron after a minute too.Vocals cry out before 2 minutes then get fragile as it gets quiet.

"E Dire Che A Morire" opens with mellotron-flutes as reserved vocals and acoustic guitar join in. Another melancholic and reserved tune. The final track "Suicido" has mellotron and these lazy vocals early on. It does pick up some as the acoustic guitar comes in and then it turns dirge-like again later.

This 1972 release just isn't really the style of music that i'm into although I really believe fans of Folk music would like this.