Consorzio Acqua Potabile
Robin Delle Stelle

I know, you're sick of it by now. I know, I should go out a bit more, play, I don't know, soccer. I know, it would be enough if I just went out with some friends, just to avoid filling up the pages of the Beloved site. But hey, I've already accepted all the conditions and I'm on the writing page, so I'll write and you'll have to endure this review too.

The Consorzio Acqua Potabile (CAP for friends) is one of those Italian progressive groups (how I hate saying "progressive," can I say they're "experimental rock" instead?) experimental rock, as I was saying, that despite playing since 1971, managed to find recording space only decades later, thanks to the mercy of the label "Kaliphonia" which, back in Novara in 1993, thought: "well, worst case, in twenty years, with a new wave of prog-revival, we sell the unsold CDs!" and so the new adventure of CAP begins with two publications in 1993 ("Sala Borsa live '77" and "Nei gorghi del tempo") which launch the band into the new landscape of experimental rock. The subsequent publication occurs in 1998 with a renewed lineup (I didn't mention the old one, alright, but I'm not talking about the '93 albums!) featuring Maurizio Mercandino (vocals), Romolo Bollea (keyboards), Maurizio Venegoni (keyboards), Fabrizio Sellone (keyboards), Massimo Gorlezza (guitar), Chicco Mercandino (guitar), Luigi Secco (bass), and Luca Bonardi (drums); the album in question is called "Robin delle Stelle" and if you ever listen to it, you will thank Kaliphonia for having relaunched Consorzio Acqua Potabile.

Now, the album does not suffer from the influence of the '80s and '90s at all: it is pure seventies-style experimental rock, even if some sounds might seem more modern (the guitar or the drums), the group's intention is clear; it's a shame about the mix that doesn't fully do justice to all the instruments (for example, you'll have to somewhat imagine the bass drum), but the album is easy to listen to without neurosis or extreme volumes. From the seventies tradition, CAP also brings along those musical odysseys that last for weeks or months: you couldn't spend those months in a better way. "Soli sull'Olimpo" stands out with its 18 minutes, but like one of those spectacular 35-year-olds in the little store downtown, it seems at least 15 years younger due to ease of listening and immersion ability (a classic: "it has 2 breasts and a backside..." - I don't want to be too vulgar). The composition is enveloping, immersive, alluring. With each variation, you can't help but exclaim: "well, would you look at that!" This sentiment applies to every one of the 5 songs on the album (only 5? Yes, but the album lasts over an hour, to your delight). With all my effort and goodwill, I managed to find only the pre-finale of the last song unremarkable "Robin...Again", a guitar arpeggio with a vocal line that I found suitable for a Disney cartoon. The rest is history. 

Simply a must-listen,  without being intimidated by the song lengths or the clichés about experimental rock (experimental rock, experimental rock, experimental rock). Digest it. From the lyrics to the music. It will soon become part of your being, and you can boast as if you had won over the 35-year-old from the store.