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Celeste - I Suoni In Una Sfera

Artist:	Celeste
Title:	I Suoni In Una Sfera
Label:	Mellow Records MMP113
Length(s):	41 minutes
Year(s) of release:	1974/1992
Month of review:	02/1996

Line up

Giorgio Battaglia - bass
Leonardo Lagorio - piano, flute, harmonica, keyboards
Ciro Perrino - percussions, keyboards, flute
Mariano Schiavolini - guitars
Marco Tudini - tenor sax, flute, percussion, vocals.

Tracks

1)	Hymn To The Spheres	2.20
2)	The Dance Of The Sounds	4.30
3)	The Gates To Consciousness	4.08
4)	In The Darkside	1.06
5)	Last Flight Of The Mind	4.19
6)	To Embark On A Love Affair	2.36
7)	The Rediscover Of The Traditions	2.35
8)	A Vision	2.10
9)	The Thought Flies High Again	3.38
10)	Eftus	3.42
11)	Favole Antiche	6.29
12)	Nadissea	5.03

Soundtrack to the film of the same name. All compositions by Perroni, except the last three by Lagprio/Schiavolini and Perroni.

Summary

Their first, Principe di un Giorno (or sometimes referred to as just Celeste), was a classic work of quite and lush progressive. Afterwards came Celeste II and this album, a soundtrack for a film. The cover says: This Compact Disc had been printed in a strictly limited edition of 300 copies exclusively for Japan and USA. I'm not sure whether I'm currently reviewing one of these, but it seems that the 'had' should be taken literally and thus that the CD is not limited anymore.

BTW my relation with Mellow is a consequence of me being rather voicing the fact that I was taken in by Celeste's first one. Ciro Perrino is with Mellow records and he read my reaction on a posting I made in a reaction to a posting about Italian music and what to try. One thing lead to another and now I'm reviewing (or have reviewed) some of their CDs.

The music

This soundtrack starts out as a real hymn in a classical mood, with high voices, an overt piano and some synths. Towards the end the sound roughens a little, adding a small nagging to the track.

The second track is based on some flards of tenor sax drifting through space.

The third is a rather simple track on flute.

Another slow moving track although not as dark as the title would suggest is the four one.

The fifth is one of those tension building tracks and is thoroughly vested in the Morricone tradition. Rather sad track and stately as well.

The sixth track is rather like the fifth and the first track combined, strengething the likeness of some of the tracks to Kayak of all bands.

Like they do more often in some of the more 'simpler' parts as I hear it, there's a hint of classical music and thus Ekseption in their softer modes.

Track nine has some percussion and has an overall jazzy laid back feel.

Eftus is a pleasant acoustic track with flute and mellotron added.

The longest track on the album is still very relaxed, only in the last track of the album the tune turns to jazzrock and the saxophone scatters a few notes here and there and everywhere and a subtle bass. This track is comparable to Robert Wyatt's earlier stuff with a soft whining voice in the background.

The quality of the recording is reasonable, although there's some hiss in the background. This kind of music is certainly not helped with that, but it's something that any equalizer should be able to handle.

Conclusion

Not as good as their main album Principe and hardly to be expected as in this case the music is to stand in the shadow of the images. Hence, a real soundtrack, non-obtrusive and relaxing. Delightful and playful in a sense and truly something for the later hours. Recommended mostly to lovers of Morricone (althought not as orchestral), synthesizer or New Age stuff. Still this album might have the same problem as Ancient Veil in the sense that most of the tracks are too easy going while the album as a whole lacks a certain flair to shine as a whole.

Best tracks are 5 and 6.