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Formed by ex-Ritratto di Dorian Gray, ex-Cherry Five and ex-Rogers
keyboardplayer Claudio Simonetti the band started out writing and
recording a fair amount of soundtracks for films from the Cinevox
roster. In 1975 Goblin almost had an album of it’s own yet the band
was once again asked to write a filmscore this time for the
succesful film “Profondo rosso”. On this, their 1978 album “Il
fantastico viaggio del ‘bagarozzo’ mark”, Goblin leaves the textures
of the lengthy keyboardtracks in favour of band oriented material
which at times evokes some strong Yes resemblances. However a piece
like ‘Le cascate di Viridiana’ still contains those long, dynamic
stretches one would/could associate with authentic drama as seen in
many films. With this album the band nevertheless goes back to their
intention of composing the material as a true progressive rock
outfit. Having written so many soundtracks Goblin most certainly
knows how to deliver visual music with ear for detail as the
sequencing in ‘La danza’ illustrates. In a way this song also
reminds me of early day Renaissance.
No
doubt Simonetti is the main asset here so if you’re a fan of
keyboard driven symphonic rock you have found the ideal place.
‘Opera magnifica’ is as it’s title implies a classic piece of work
yet arranged in a modern kind of way. However it gives a perfect
image of the talents of Simonetti. The storytelling during ‘Notte’
again illustrates the band’s strength into accompanying the spoken
word whether on the screen, on stage or ‘simply’ on album. Having
mainly written scores for horror movies, the ‘spooky’ element is
also contained here even sounding a little like the main theme from
“Tubular bells” ! On this album Simonetti fully experiments with
sequencers as he also illustrates during the jazzy ‘E suono rock’,
the closing section of this fine album. To my ears this track sounds
as if you were to merge Deep Purple with Triumvirat. Pitty it stops
so abrupt !
I
believe ‘Il fantastico viaggio del ‘bagarozzo’ mark’ had already
been released on CD sporting two bonus videotracks. Here the label
has taken great pride in issuing it the same way as it’s vinyl
original so many years ago. As an extra you not only get the
miniature albumsleeve in thick cardboard quality but together with
the obi strip you also get a tiny 16 page booklet in Korean
lettering and very small photographs. Yet another quality release.
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