4TH

The Italian progressive scene boasts many authentic groups who draw inspiration from all kinds of sources. DFA's "4th" is a classic example of top shelf current Italian prog that uses classic progressive as a template, expanding the sound with just the right amount of contemporary panache to complete the finished product.

Take the first track, Baltasaurus. This monster runs the gamut, starting with the Hatfield and the North template and constructing a powerful sound featuring epochal rhythms, dynamic instrumental interplay, and exciting tempo shifts. Powerful is the word to describe this tune. The clean, refined sound definitely accents the nuances of the production on this song and the remaining package.

The rest of the tunes run the gamut as well, using contemporary Canterbury flavor - making this almost a tribute album (put out more people!!!). My only slight qualm with this album - the album cover is a bit generic. In my eyes, it's almost a big deal. For an album to attain classic status, the album cover must portray an image that positively reflects something creative about the feelings contained within the music. I don't feel or see it here, this cover looks to me like it was put together in a half an hour and rushed onto the album. Still, the music is terrific and because of acts like DFA, Accordo dei Contrari, and Il Tempio Delle Clessidre, contemporary progressive music finds its way onto my turntable quite often. This album deserves at least 100 ratings if not 500 from Progarchives members. Like Miriodor, it seems DFA will go down in progressive rock history as a minor footnote - which is sad. It's a shame this lineup will never have the chance to build on this masterpiece of sound.