4TH

Been looking forward to this one after enjoying their previous two albums immensley. There's been a buzz about this one as well in Prog-circles, so I was salivating. It would be fair to say that these guys have made each album a little different from the previous one. This is my least favourite of the three as it turns out, but still a solid 4 star album. Edit April 4th 2012. It is now my favourite of the three and I would rate this at 4.5 stars.

"Baltasaurus" is over 14 minutes of fusion. I love the intro because it reminds me of the band ONE SHOT. I really like the organ before 2 1/2 minutes and the drums are killer ! A beautiful collage of sounds follows. I like the calm with flute 5 1/2 minutes in. These guys really contrast well that sort of usual fusion i'm used to with outbursts of organ, guitar and drums. Check out the drumming before 9 minutes. More great organ before 13 minutes. Nice. "Flying Trip" is more laid back with liquid keys and gentle guitar. Flute and bass follow. Guitar before 2 minutes. Synths lead the way until the guitar takes over that roll. Piano and mellotron 5 minutes in with guitar right on their heels.

"Vietato Generalizzare" hits the ground running. Organ and drums lead the way early. Nice.The guitar comes ripping in before mellotron and drums take over 1 1/2 minutes in. A mellow section before 2 1/2 minutes before it kicks back in. The rest of the song is just a pleasure to listen to as the drums, guitar and organ are all outstanding. "Mosoq Runa" is a 19 minute ride that opens with some relaxing piano. It starts to slowly build as piano continues. A change 3 1/2 minutes in to a darker more atmospheric sound. Nice. It becomes uptempo 5 minutes in with some excellent organ 5 1/2 minutes in and before 7 minutes. Another calm after 8 1/2 minutes as it starts to build again. Relaxing guitar 15 minutes in. A calm with piano 17 minutes in as mellotron rolls in. Flute follows as piano continues to the end.

"The Mirror" is the first song with some vocals. Percussion and synths help out. A change 1 1/2 minutes in as it becomes dreamy. He's singing in English on this song. Guitar after 3 minutes as some nice bass lines come in with pounding drums. A change 5 minutes in as the rest of the song is all-instrumental, allowing these guys show us how well they can play. Check out the drumming during the last minute. "La Ballata De S'isposa 'E Mannorri" features the vocals of a band called ANDHIRA. We get three vocals singing here. The vocal arrangements are something else. Some guitar before 3 1/2 minutes, but this is all about the vocals. Violin and cellos late.

I sense that this is a more mature effort from the band. Not as dynamic or powerful as the previous two albums.