STORIE INVISIBILI

So, you wanna hear a funny story? Less than a week ago, I finally check out Banco without any prior knowledge about them. After playing their legendary first three albums, and falling in love with them, I find out that they've got a new album out THE SAME WEEK. I've been actively listening to album after album for 12 years now and I don't think that's ever happened to me. So I made the decision to make that my first album of Feb. 28, the day of release.

Of course, this doesn't mean I expected brilliance. One look at the track lengths will tell you that they're going a bit more pop. So this needs to be judged as a ROCK album. Now, there's no shortage of catchy melodies, thankfully. These things still come pretty easily to the band even more than 50 years into their career. I haven't heard their reviled 80's works, but I'm certain this is way better. There's a strong prog influence that doesn't often work its way into the time signatures, but leaves plenty of room for numerous surprises that maintain flow because of the personality of the band. Of course, it also helps that they're essentially playing the same instruments they've been playing for 50 years, which means, even though you're getting a bunch of pop rock songs, you're still getting plenty of Banco spirit, which is all I could've asked for. This also helps most tracks to keep their own identity, and since Banco is largely personality, that means each identity is strong and independent.

Obviously, it may be a disappointment that this isn't the most proggy of prog albums. But what really matters is how Banco's able to deliver this direction, and they succeeded constantly. The same jazz and classical influences are their in a radio pop rock fashion that ironically strays strong. I think if I had to tag this, I'd say it's an art rock and pop rock album with elements of prog pop and symphonic prog.

I won't be neutral: It's hard to listen to, in the repetition, it's between Angelo Branduardi and Rondò Veneziano, but better, yes I tease from time to time!! Okay, let's go!? Hey Capo Horn is of unfailing sensitivity, all in finesse with the vocal and piano association.. the longest too but lacking the prog break so hoped for, my disappointment! Cena is well stamped RPI we just want to dance in a circle in the great hall of the castle Il mietitore ah la I would like to find someone to find that good, and yet they invent, they innovate.. but the phrasing does not work Il pittore ballad where the voice in Italian we agree, goes down like a letter to the post office and makes you want to hug your girlfriend... All in memories spleen, in short ballad to wrap up!! The ultimate yes but no... This overly provocative synth and the aggressive vocal La casa with vocoder and soaring atmosphere from the time of Enzo du grand Bleu...ah they know how to melt you No Sono Pazzo.. no fast, not denoting my style, the voice again Sara.. not that of Fleetwood Mac but hey. spleen, oozing melancholy, a synth stamped 80, a little sweet candy.. Senza with still the sad piano at the beginning, good but it really lacks this prog blood.. Solo in the same vein... finally in the same plot Spiegami sad...a little more, in fact we are on ballads except here precisely where the velvety keyboards enter the scene...it would be time!! Studenti for the first title of the album, the one that had done me good by offering this Italian prog rock sound so characteristic. Yes, but there is a but... where has the bucolic prog blood that overflows from Italian albums gone? Here is an album that stands out for its too short compositions, paradoxical there. (2.5)