Orchestre Celesti: Transition of Power

ORCHESTRE CELESTI is, in fact, composer and keyboardist Federico Fantacone, who since 2006 has been trying to blend the stylistic expressions of typical Italian prog artists with the English first wave prog of the 1970s, adding contemporary electronic soundscapes.

He's issued two albums under the Orchestre Celesti moniker so far: Compi La Tua Magia in 2007 and Black and Red in 2009.

Transition of Power is his third album, then, an instrumental (with a couple of exceptions, with vocals, in Italian, by Gius Lanari) prog project, which took over two years to complete. It is dedicated to "Douglas Fairbanks", one of the main Italian indie prog bands from the late '70s/early '80s.

There's also a cover of "The Rainmaker" by The Flower Kings, and "Transylvanian Express" by Steve Hackett, off the Wild Orchids album.

Fantacone, who plays a whole range of keyboards, in a host of different styles, is a hugely talented lad, obviously. I particularly like his full blown symphonic workouts, and there's some nice ELP – sounding stuff here too. But the shimmery, new age, pastoral stuff is quite nice too.

However, you really begin to miss a proper drummer, as electronics just can't cut it for me. I do love Tull's Under Wraps, though, one of the few albums in my collection with a drum machine in place of a drummer, but that's about it. A decent rhythm section would really bring this stuff to life – Fantacone plays bass keyboards too, which just don't have enough oomph. Where's a Rickenbacker when you need one?

However, you just cannot grumble for free. Which is what it will cost you to (legally) download it at the link below. All in all a good effort, enjoyable instrumental progressive rock by a highly talented musician, who entered The Tangent's search for a solo competition (his entry is included here as a bonus track) so he's clearly a good bloke too.

Tracklist:
1. Transition of Power: Crisis; Emerging Alternatives; The Battle; Transition Of Power
2.The Rain Maker
3.The Fly
4. L'Ultiomo Bolero
5.Transylvanaian Express
6. Clubringer – Sound of My dream
7. Arabesque
8. Syrinx: God Pan; The chaste nimph; On the river's edge; The Naiadi
BONUS TRACK
Search For A Solo competition: piano solo for The Tangent's "Wiki Man" (on COMM)

Added: October 26th 2011
Reviewer: Brian Watson
Score:
Related Link: More Information
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Language: english

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