Civico 23
Siero Progressivo

A year after their first demo, the first official album of the Roman progressive band Civico 23 is released. Catalog LDV 005 from the label Lizard Records.

Civico 23 are one of the most important novelties of recent years in the Italian progressive rock scene, as they define themselves as "New Vintage", without neglecting that Pop and Hard Rock imprint that many bands today prefer to snub before diving headfirst into a more experimental realm.

The band's roots are absolutely seventies (listen to Biglietto per l'Inferno and Pholas Dactylus), but more catchy even without the presence of choruses in the lyrics. The band members are six: the "minstrel" Joe Galatone, author of the lyrics and charismatic leader of the band together with the talented bassist Lorenzo Gaudino. The work of the two guitars is noteworthy (hear "Urano" and "Paura Infinita") by Daniel Parisi on lead guitar and Federico "Cianfo" Cianfarra on rhythm. Francesco Cossio on drums and, as every respectable progressive band, great work on keyboards by Simone Mastrodonato.

Listening to the album, despite not having an easy stylistic origin, the sound is very colorful, reminiscent of past bands between Symphonic prog and Canterbury prog. Despite everything, the work results in easy-listening. It's incredible how the entire album is not challenging despite the diverging changes in rhythm and themes. An excellent work enhanced by the singer's references to the world of Cinema and the fascinating and sometimes fun atmospheres that the band offers to the listener's ear.

The album consists of 10 tracks for about an hour of music: the presence of an almost Pop-like opening track "Umida Cenere" is well-chosen, a fun folk-story like the duo "Il Menestrello- Il Cavaliere Illuso" and the entertaining and overwhelming "Urano" and "Paura Infinita", the latter with a piratical atmosphere and Hard-Prog sound. The latter phase of the album is more introspective: interesting the epic "Delirio ad Occhi Chiusi" (almost entirely instrumental) and "L'ultimo Grido di Galeria" (a full 13 minutes of delirium).

An excellent beginning and a wish for another confirmation of Prog-Rock, especially for the new homegrown bands. 

Congratulations Civico 23