genre: prog
country: italy
quality: lossless (ape, cue, log, scans)
time: 39'53" size: 248 mb
misc.: 1995 remaster
ItalianProg:
According to one of our sources Alphataurus came from Genova, though we tend to think they were from Milan, but in any case they were one of the many unknownitalian bands who suddenly had a recording deal, made an album and disappearedinto oblivion.
Their only album, Alphataurus, the first on the newly bornMagma label, is a masterpiece, so well crafted and played that it seemsimpossible that's been made by a group of unknowns. The singer Bavaro has a veryoriginal voice, keyboard player Pietro Pellegrini plays with competence and noself-indulgence, guitar-playing of Guido Wasserman is well cared and the rhythmsection of Oliva and Santandrea creates a powerful background.
The album includes five long compositions of which Peccatod'orgoglio and La mente vola are the best, the latter featuring anice moog intro and a stunning vibes solo.
Soon after this the band split while recording a secondalbum. This has been reissued on CD as Dietro l'uragano but only includesthe instrumental parts and no vocals, the result is good though it soundsincomplete at times.
Drummer Giorgio Santandrea was briefly in Crystals, while keyboardist Pietro Pellegrini has long collaborated with RiccardoZappa and PFM.
Singer Michele Bavaro released a commercial solo album near the end of the 70's.He's probably the same Bavaro that has recently released a CD of italian songsfor the brazilian market.
1. Le chamadere(Peccato d´orgoglio) (12:18)
2. Dopo L´uragano (4:48)
3. Croma (3:14)
4. La mente vola (9:21)
5. Ombra Muta (9:48)
- Michele Bavaro / vocals
- Alfonso Olive / bass
- Pietro Pellegrini / keyboards
- Giorgio Santanderea / drums
- Guido Wasserman / guitar
The self-titled Alphataurus album was one of my earliest ventures into the world of Italian progressive rock, and today stands, in my eyes, as one of the unequivocal classics of the scene. Stylistically, the group falls squarely into the heavy progressive mold, sitting nicely alongside bands like Il Balleto di Bronzo and especially Museo Rosenbach. Alphataurus incorporates something of a bluesy, hard rock-ish vibe in along with frenzied Hammond riffs and thundering mellotron movements, combining for a shuddering attack of unparalleled power and energy. The vocalist has a raspy, earthy tone that lends itself perfectly to the alternately exquisite and violent instrumental underpinning. Despite the aggressive stance of the band, the melodies here are absolutely gorgeous when the band wants them to be, rising from the cacophony like a butterfly.
The entire album is pretty much flawless, and features three long tracks divided by a short mellotron driven instrumental, and the short, but monstrous "Dopo L'Uragano", a relatively simple track with a ballsy guitar riff that crushes you with all the subtlety of a Panzer tank. The other three tracks are fairly varied but all retain a consistently high quality; catchy, emotional and biting, with a tendency to for total balls-to-the-wall ferocity. Alphataurus is an unparalled heavy prog classic to my ears, don't miss out on the kick ass gatefold artwork either. - Greg Northrup
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