ZARATHUSTRA

One of the great features of the progressive music is the possibility for an artist or band to sing and to be heard in their native languages. There isn't the obligatory commercial bias that every stuff must be recorded in English - really the dominating language and the most adequate when an international level is searched. But for the average prog fan even not speaking that particular language, the music and the way it is sung is enough to get into the climate of the song since emotions and feelings can be better expressed when artists are singing in their first language and consequently felt universally.

MUSEO's "Zarathustra" falls entirely in that category where the native language - Italian, in this case, works almost perfectly and any sort of translation should be disappointing. I owned this work in the vinyl era but now I am reviewing it through a CD copy - I did it because "Zarathustra" had amazed me too much 30 years ago and still continues to amaze.

I agree with previous reviews that MUSEO ROSENBACH bear influences from other bands, notably EL&P and KING CRIMSON and sometimes early PREMIATA stuff; but all artists, the more original they seem, have their own influences, it shall not be derogatory.

The fact is that this work is better understood and accepted if heard like a single and long piece - no skips, no stops; even containing certain dull moments (just like Nietzsche's book) and even when sometimes musicianship overwhelms the history to be told. Amidst fantastic tunes and harmonies, it shall be pointed that the real climax occurs in the middle part of the album with 'Al di la del bene e del male' and 'Superuomo' tracks, truly a superb moment in the Italian progressive music.

The abovementioned dull passages aren't enough to spoil the magnitude and solemnity of the entire work: an absolute milestone. Total: 4 stars.