TUNNEL

This album might have you wondering if you're actually listening to Il Volo in disguise as Abissi Infiniti share that band's propensity for lush and melodic light progressive music, albeit with even more of a pop sensibility. 'Nebbia Incantada' (Enchanted Fog) is probably the best example with its lyrical vocals, spiky guitar and electric piano. This song is also one of the more progressive on the album, the other notable one being 'Come Bambini di Sera' (Like Children in the Evening). If not exactly complex, these two songs at least have some semblance of multi-part structures to add interest.

The album's sole instrumental 'Spirale' (Spiral) sounds like a funky version of Yes while the remainder of the songs are pretty but nondescript ballads, mostly dominated by piano and Solina string-ensemble. Having said that if you look below the surface there is certainly a bit of depth, especially in the lyrics. For example the title-track is concerned with the pain and despair of social isolation. Although the protagonist is described as important and has the world in his hands he has no one to talk to, his friends are absent and he has no one waiting at home: 'you want to run away... you want to escape from your destiny, you see a tunnel.'

In case anyone was wondering about the connection between the generally soft dreamy music and the rather warlike artwork, a little explanation might be in order. Throughout the album the Italian lyrics refer to wizards, swords and bewitched lakes, and the lovely picture of 5th century Romano-British figures on the cover reinforces the conceptual feel. The album closes with a brace of tracks that are based on Arthurian legend, the first of which, 'Merlino' (Merlin), is inspired by the supposedly devil-begotten magician. 'La Grotta di Cristallo' (The Crystal Cave) then tells how Uther Pendragon conquered Tintagel Castle from Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall. And with the help of Merlin, Pendragon tricks Lady Igraine into sleeping with him and she conceives Arthur: 'Now alone in the cave you try the magical arts in the fire, that with mean deceit gave to King Pendragon, merry knight, a bride, Igraine, and caused the death of the traitor duke.'

'Tunnel' is an obscurity that will probably be of interest only to serious RPI collectors, and even then it might be quite far down the pecking order. However the vinyl copy is something of a rarity and Mellow Records are sold out of the CD, so it might be prudent to buy this one when you see it.