CONCERTO GROSSO - THE SEVEN SEASONS

I was pleasantly surprised with the news that this legendary Italian formation has released a new album I still love their 2-LP Searching For A Land (1973), what a great musicians, what a variety an dhow many musical highlights! Like the other legendary Seventies Italian reunion bands Le Orme, Banco and PFM, New Trolls showcases their huge qualities and creativiy on this new CD (15 songs, running time at about 75 minutes), what a stunning album!

The songs The Knowledge - Overture (flute like Jethro Tull), Future Joy (witht clarinet) and Barocco'n'Roll - allegro Brioso (fat guitarwork) sound like the typical late Sixties/early Seventies blend of classical and symphonic prog featuring a captivating tension between violins and fiery electric guitar with a bombastic and propulsive climate.On the other hand New Trolls also deliver mellow songs like Dance With The Rain - Ballatta (warme sound of twanging guitar, soft flute and violins), Intro And Canone (beautiful classical guitar), Testament Of Time - Andante (melancholical violins along clarinet and warm vocals with piano), The Season Of Hope -Piano Preludio - (sparkling piano solo) and Ethix - Canzona (wonderful ballad with piano, violins and vocals). Very strong are the varied tracks To Love The Land - Adagio (more and more lush and compelling with a captivating contrast between violins and guitar and two sensitive guitar solos), the Queen-like The Ray Of White Light - Rondo (first Grand piano, then a strong build with a rock-opera-like atmosphere with great guitar work) and the captivating Simply Angels - Suite (bombastic and compelling with a lush instrumentation, from biting guitar and vibraphone to a violin orchestra). The final song So Che Ci Sei (Italian version of Dance With The Rain) is unfortunately the only one in the wonderful and so expressive Italian language, it sounds warm and dreamy with twanging acoustic guitar, flute, violin and clarinet, simply wonderful!

To me this new album by RPI legend New Trolls sounds impressive, perhaps a bit less rock and more classical but just like their acclaimed 2-LP Searching For A Land very varied and captivating. For me New Trolls are the only trolls we appreciate on Prog Archives!!