MAXOPHONE

As a passionate fan of Italian prog, it is always a pleasure to listen to these fine vocal harmonies, good keys developments and some jazzy fantasy as well. These elements are all featured in the opening track "C' È Un Paese Al Mondo".

Obscure, hard to reach, but pleasant overall. Italian symph as we can expect I guess? Genuine Italian music, I mean?

The complexity of several songs are with no doubt reminding me some of a KC affair. But "Maxophone" is not the first band to share similarities with this giant. I reckon that some tracks are too loose to sound great. Too many hesitations, too many repetitions: little enthusiasm globally. That's what I feel.

Passion and jazzy items are well performed and songs as "Mancato Compleanno?" or "Elzeviro" surely deserve your attention. But you should bear in mind that they are not that close of the origin of the great Italian genre we all love.

There is of course no question about the skills of the musicians (but this is only a standard I guess for professionals). Guitar harmonies, vocal skills, some fine "Trespass" feel are all more than welcome like during "Mercanti Di Pazzie".

I will be less generous in my rating than the majority of my fellow reviewers. The main reason being that this album shares too many jazz influences ("Antiche Conclusioni Negrethan") than true Italian symph prog ones.

This is a good album. Three stars.