IL VOLO - ESSERE O NON ESSERE - 1975

This Italian progressive/fusion album is quite different from other Italian bands like PFM, Banco and Le Orme: the presence of clavinet, mandolin, singular keyboards textures and Latino rhythms are enough to put this album in a class apart.

Compared to their first album, "Essere o non essere" is more instrumental and rhythmic. There are many excellent percussion parts. There are still many floating keyboards parts a la Pink Floyd's "Animals". The mandolin parts still contribute here to make their trademark. The exhibition of the Clavinet instrument, in a rhythmic manner, is particularly impressive. The overall mood is VERY rhythmic, as reveal the miscellaneous percussions, clavinet and electric piano parts. The keyboards are more present and elaborated than on the previous album: I even notice some organ parts. The bass is, again, very bottom, loud, complex and varied; the impressive drums are absolutely complex: one feels their presence essential to support the refined rhythms. There are unique synthesizer or guitar? sounds, a bit like Pat Metheny used to produce on his "Offramp" album with a synthesizer guitar: they sound a bit like a funny sax/trumpet. There are still many excellent electric guitar solos. Il Volo significantly reduced their lead & backing vocals here. At the limit, the album nearly has the fusion style.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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