Show Date: Fri. October 29, 1999
Show #58
Italy - volume 19



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Playlist:
# Artist Song (click to play) Album Year CD label
1 Semiramis Uno zoo di vetro Dedicatto a Frazz 1973 Vinyl Magic
Here is another song (the first was on Italy - volume 1) from Semiramis' only release. It starts out as a little acoustic diddy, goes into some dark ominous keyboards, and then lays you flat on the ground with a killer guitar riff accentuated by sinister synthesizer buzzes. After this furious bit of hard progressive, the song returns to the happy floating acoustic sound of the very beginning of the song, only to take another strange turn for 2 minutes of ethereal highly reverbed vibraphone and keyboard sounds. Obviously, a very varied album.
 
2 Mediterranea Vai facile Ecce Rock 1981 King Record (LP only - reissue)
Interesting guitar-oriented (mostly) instrumental progressive. It has elements of late 70's American fusion, as well as some "mediterranean" sounds, as you would expect. What I mean by that is that there are hints at folkiness, especially in the use of a mandolin-like stringed instrument (not sure, exactly, if that is what I am hearing).
 
3 Deus Ex Machina Dove non Puo Esserci Contraddizione Equilibrismo da Insofferenza 1998 Kaliphonia
This is DEM's latest studio recording, and perhaps their best. The vocals have changed from Latin to Italian, but, to those who speak neither of those languages, it's all Greek anyway. DEM is simply put, one of the best progressive bands of the 90's. Their albums have no weak points, IMO. Superb arrangements, top-notch playing. The group on this album also features the use of intermittent horn section accents.
 
4 Nadoieda Parenot-21 Atto I e II 1996 Angry Cat Records
Excellent fusion that bears more than a slight resemblance to Tribal Tech. Highly recommended if you are a guitar fusion fan.
 
5 Divae Regina Delle Fate Determinazione 1995 Progressivamente
Repeat performance from Divae's only release. My only complaint is that the synth sounds are often typical and unoriginal. The keys sound better when they get out the old classic analog keysboards. The music is a melodramatic symphonic progressive. Very good and recommended.
 
6 Devil Doll Sacrilegium (excerpt) Sacrilegium 1992 Hurdy Gurdy / Renaissance
Devil Doll's third release. It is difficult picking out a section from a Devil Doll album because the albums are basically one long track with no divisions. But, here is a tasty morsel from the center of the album. This section is so beautiful, dark, and majestic it gives me the chills. So, is everyone scrambling to buy all the Devil Doll albums, yet?
 


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