MAD CRAYON - DIAMANTI - 1999

I quite enjoyed this modern Italian band.I was reminded of GENESIS several times,especially during the first two tracks. La Ballata Dell'Uomo Nudo doesn't do a lot for me although the chorus has such a feel-good vibe to it with some nice guitar to follow each time.Synth solo after 2 minutes. Deserti really reminds me of GENESIS around the ...And Then There Were Three album.This one is pastoral with acoustic guitar and soft vocals to begin with.Drums and a fuller sound a minute in.The contrast continues.Sax before 2 1/2 minutes with a more aggressive sound to follow.Back and forth it goes. Glorioso Destino is a guitar led,uptempo track with a fusion flavour.The tempo does shift throughout though with some sax 4 1/2 minutes in. Pioggia Di Fiori features acoustic guitar and dual reserved vocals including female guest vocalist Eleonora.Flute and light drums after 2 minutes.A guitar solo after 3 1/2 minutes and again later after 4 minutes.Piano 5 minutes in. Diamanti is the title track and an instrumental.This one sounds great with acoustic and electric guitar and a mellow sound to start with.Violin 2 minutes in with piano is replaced by a full sound of guitar and drums.Lots of tempo changes to follow. L'Allegra Brigata is by far the longest track at 11 1/2 minutes.Gentle guitar to opens as fragile vocals enter.A full sound arrives suddenly after 2 minutes.A GENESIS feel to this one especially with the synths.The sound changes after 5 minutes.You can eventually hear the sea gulls and waves.Vocals return 7 1/2 minutes in.An almost spacey soundscape 10 minutes in to the end. Principe Delle Maree opens with riffs, then synths join in as a nice guitar melody replaces the riffs.Vocals a minute in.I'm not a fan of this section but it does get better after 4 minutes when it turns mellow before picking back up.Spacey synths to end it. Alchimia Di Una Leggenda is mellow with flute,light drums
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