(LA) MASCHERA DI CERA

(LA) MASCHERA DI CERA - LuxAde

Disk 1
Programma I
1. Porta del Cielo (1:10)
2. Doppia Immagine (7:49)
3. Un Senso All'impossible (10:18)
i) teatro di follia
ii) il ricordo
4. Orpheus (4:45)
5. Nuova Luce (10:13)
i) passato
ii) sogno
iii) presente
iv) realtà

Programma II
6. Enciclica 1168 (24:29)
7. Schema (v.s.d.) (3:41)

Line-up
- Agostino Macor: keyboards, theremin
- Alessandro Corvaglia: lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Andrea Monetti: flute, recorder, saxophone
- Fabio Zuffanti: bass, bass pedals, choirs
- Maurizio Di Tollo: drums, percussion

format: Single CD • Immaginifica Records #QQ 1003
release date: March 2006

La Maschera di Cera's' official website at:
http://www.mascheradicera.com/

A review by guest critic Yves Dubé

The Italian progressive scene has often been viewed as one of the richest to be found anywhere. Throughout the 70s (and beyond) “The Boot” produced some of the most musically astute bands to ever grace the annals of progressive music: PFM, Banco, Area, Metamorphosi, Le Orme, Il Balleto Di Bronzo, to name a few from the 70s; Deus Ex Machina, Finisterre, and now La Maschera Di Cera, to name some more recent ones.

It can be argued that music represents a culture on the same level as cuisine does. You can tell a lot about a nation by their musical outpourings, as well as their culinary expertise. Thinking along these lines, it’s easy to draw a parallel between Italian food and Italian progressive music. In both cases, we seem to get very robust flavors created by using primarily the same basic ingredients. The Italian progressive scene has always seemed, to this reviewer, to produce bands with similar approaches and sounds, just like Italian cuisine seems to be comprised of a lot of the same ingredients used slightly differently from region to region. Keeping this in mind, if one does not appreciate Ital-prog, generally speaking, one will not find exceptions to the rule.

So, in keeping with this parallel line of thought, can it be argued that Fabio Zuffanti is the Iron Chef Italy ? The ubiquitous bass player has been a pillar in the Italian music scene, having participated in various bands and projects over the years. With La Maschera Di Cera (the wax mask) Mr. Zuffanti has wanted to re-create the classic Italian progressive sounds of the 70s. On LuxAde, the band’s third studio release, that vision has become fully focused. This album is a stunning progressive juggernaut from cover to cover. Seven tracks, from 1:10 min. musical sorbets, to 24:29 min. feasts fit for a king, will not have you leaving the table feeling hungry. In true Italian progressive fashion, La Maschera Di Cera pulls out every conceivable instrument ever experimented with during the golden age of prog. Myriad keys, including the mighty ‘Tron, Hammond organ, clavinet, theremin, and even a Crumar, are front and center along with various flutes and saxophones, all bound together with traditional rock instruments. The vocals, all sung in Italian of course, are delivered in a very passionate mid-range voice, reminiscent of Metamorfosi’s Jimmy Spitarel. The music itself is a juxtaposition of softer, more ethereal passages, and heavier, pompous and bombastic moments. Un Senso All’Impossibile may be the best example of this contrast. The opening Teatre di Follia opens very soft and delicate, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of safety as the closing segment Il Ricordo generates a small tempest in a bottle, with its heavy backbeat, soaring flute passages, and driving organ; all very melodically delivered. In fact, it seems to be on the disc’s longer suites that the band can fully develop the sound they are aiming for. The 4-part Nuova Luce is an exquisite jewel. Walls of keys engulf the listener, interspersed by vocals which vary from soft croons, to passionate wails. The disc’s show-stopper though, is the 9-part, 24:29 Enciclica 1168. This track alone contains as many satisfying elements as entire Italian prog albums of the 70s used to (and clocks in almost as lengthy). Here, elements of all the classic Italian bands (most notably PFM and Metomorfosi) are resuscitated and restored. It’s a true epic track which takes the listener on a musical voyage of contrasting lightness and darkness, reminiscent of timeless classics like Le Orme’s Felona e Serona and Metamorfosi’s Inferno. The track, like the entire disc, delivers on what it promises.

As stated in the opening segments, La Maschera Di Cera emulates the classic Italian bands of the golden age of prog. If one is not a fan of this particular vein, one will not be converted by this disc. However, if one is a fan of the era (and I’ll venture a guess that most diehard proggers are) then one will be served well with LuxAde. This is quite simply one of the best discs of 2006. I eagerly await their live presentation of this material at NEARFest this summer.

My rating for LuxAde : 9.3/10(album reviewed by Yves Dubé, 25/12/2006)