ELEMENTO ANTROPICO

Now this is something! I happened to hear this italian band on Progstreaming and they just blew me away immediately. After two listens I ordered their album right away! They basically play a melodic progressive rock with small hints of jazz and avant-garde. But don't be put of by the avant-garde-ish influences, they are just a small portion of what you get with this band. I would say they have just enough of avant-garde to keep this fresh and entertaining, and entertaining it is! The band moves easily between heavy arrangements to sweet mellow melodies to complex crazyness. Great stuff! The music is mostly instrumental but there are some spoken words sometimes, it is an italian band after all. They manage to keep the music feel modern and innovative but still keep the best of the progressive rock from the 70s. I just love how they move between really heavy arrangements to delicate interludes in seconds, very powerful and dynamic arrangements. It's melodic, theatrical and fun! If you love italian progressive rock, this is a must! This will probably be one of my favourite albums of 2017!!

Novel hedonistic zany Italian!

BASTA! is an eclectic electric progressive rock quintet from Tuscany, consisting of Damiano BONDI (Diamonica Hammond 44), Saverio SISTI (Electric Guitar, 8-Strings Guitar), Giacomo SOLDANI (Bass), Andrea TINACCI (Bass Clarinet, Clarinet), and Roberto MOLISSE (Drums).

If you go to Basta's website the first thing you see- "Our name is Basta!, which means "stop"? but nothing will stop us!" Well, that's a can-do-attitude. Elemento Antropico which translates to " Antropic Element" is the 2017 follow up to 2013's debut "Ogetta di Studio". I know nothing of Basta's debut but I will remedy that oversight soon.

Basta! exhales schizophrenic fumes. One moment "Lady and the Tramp" happy grotto Disney scene interupted by heavy guitar riffs that descend like large hail on a spring picnic. Invigorating and bracing thunderstorm to say the least. Madcap eccentric Peter and the Wolf chasing a Tasmanian Tuscany heavy prog dog tail. Giacomo Soldani's bass burbling beneath rusty razor edged Saverio Sisti's guitar leads. If you don't like the direction this is going then stick around for a minute. For me, Andrea Tinacci superb clarinet technique is the star of "Elemento Antropico". As a teenager I played Bass Clarinet, so I have a weakness for first-rate clarinet technique. Tinacci's has a classical meets Italian vino style. I like, I like. Actually, Damiano Bondi playing adds flavorful Italian squeezebox/harmonic accents throughout. For those who don't know, a Diamonica Hammond 44 is a Melodion (Keyboard Harmonica). With his melodeon Bondi creates a very warm and deep reed sound which is indispensable to Basta!'s identity. If you go to the Progarchive band page for Basta! you can see a photo of Bondi playing a melodeon, Tinnacci on bass clarinet and the rest of the band. Looks like they're having fun! .

Although diverse, the instrumentation tones always match and rhyme. Vocals? We don't need no vocals! Every now and then there's narration between songs. For fans of adventurous Peter and Wolf style classical clarinet, Heavy but not necessarily loud prog riffs, and Italian seaside bar" Diamonica Hammond 44" dynamics and avant-garde sensibilities. Basta's "Elemento Antropico" in a one of a kind album that would be fun to play while eating a "Lady and Tramp" spaghetti dinner. Instead of animated Disney dogs we got Bass clarinet and electric guitar dialog. Basta can be heard at Progstreaming.

3.6 stars rounded to 4 stars because I personally like it. An excellent addition to any progressive rock music collection.