OPERA PRIMA

This is a rather minimalist line-up for a band playing Italian symph. Usually, we get some wind or chord player, a duo of keyboards or some fine guitarists. Nothing as such here. What we get is a keyboard player (who incidentally also sings) and a percussionist.

This doesn't mean that the music is minimalist though. Keyboards lovers, this album is yours: there are lots of bombastic and pleasant moments which automatically remind the good old ELP, but what is ruining this effort are the dreadful vocals: a desperate rasping voice (but some other reviewers seemed to appreciate this ''feature'', so.).

I wouldn't speak about highlights on this work, just a bunch of good songs which are flowing easily, without hurting any musical sense. Church organ sounds, heavy keys and intriguing mood are the components of the closing track ''Camellandia'' (nothing to do with a potential ''Camel'' land). I particularly like the mellotron section (but this is no surprise). The good point is that this is an instrumental track.

The second best number is the opener ''Nativita''. Like ''Camellandia'', it features some fine mellotron lines and it is quite upbeat at start and varied. From frenetic to emotive: this instrumental will lead you there. Since these two songs only are almost good for half of this album, one cannot complain too much. Still it would have been inspired to play some more of these pleasant tracks during the whole of this work.

This being said, there are no weak numbers per se, but ''Icaro'' is not very consistent and I am quite irritated with the voice of Paolo Rustichelli. It ends up in some jazzy interplay between both musicians. If you are missing some fine melody, I recommend you to listen to the emotive ''Dolce Sorella'' (sweet sister). A very sweet ballad indeed.

It is a good album (at least I consider it as such), but I wouldn't go over three stars to rate it. It would have been another affair if someone like Franceso DiGiacomo (''Banco'') would have been in charge of the vocals. Under these circumstances, a song as Un Cane'' would have been a masterpiece; because the potential was there; definitely.