Italian prog act Syndone have been around in one form or another since 1989, with the original intent of starting up a prog rock trio in the grand tradition of ELP. Many line-up changes and many years later, the band are now comprised of Nico Nik Comoglio (keyboards), Riccardo Ruggeri (vocals), and Francesco Pinetti ( vibraphone), and their brand new album is titled Odysseas. Guests on the album include drum virtuoso Marco Minnemann as well as John Hackett on flute.
From the opening track "Invocazione Alla Musa", it's obvious that the keyboard heavy sounds of ELP, as well as PFM, Banco, and Triumvirat, are what the band has always gone for and still achieve to this day. Powerful vocals (sung in Italian) soar alongside plenty of Hammond, Moog, and other vintage keyboards on energetic prog romps such as "Focus", "Circe", and "Poseidon", while " Il Tempo Che Non Ho", and "Penelope" offer up a gentler touch, with tender vocals soothing alongside majestic piano accompaniment. As he is on just about anything he touches, Minnemann is just outstanding throughout, laying down plenty of intricate fills on the quirky, Gentle Giant influenced "Nemesis", and locked in the pocket on the operatic prog/fusion track "Daimones".
Nico Nik Comoglio is quite the keyboard wizard here, and while some of the material on the album steers a bit too far towards the romantic prog side of things, he's a pure delight throughout and anyone into lush Italian prog should really enjoy this one.
Track Listing
1. Invocazione Alla Musa
2. Il Tempo Che Non Ho
3. Focus
4. Penelope
5. Circe
6. Ade
7. Poseidon
8. Nemesis
9. La Grande Bouffe
10. Eros & Thanatos
11. Vento Avverso
12. Ελευθερια / Freedom
13. Daimones
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