LatteMiele 2.0
Paganini Experience

The Genoese band Latte e Miele is an Italian prog group from the '70s, known for their "Passio Secundum Mattheum" of 1972, a classic attempt to combine Gospel texts with Bach's music. In its own way, despite its flaws, it is still a historic album today. "Papillon" from the following year probably did better. In any case, the group reformed in 2008: the result was the album "Marco Polo (Sogni e Viaggi)" in 2009 and the reimagining, with a large number of guests, of the "Passio Secundum Mattheum" in 2014. Now, a new lineup has been formed (without founding members Giancarlo Dellacasa and Alfio Vitanza) called LatteMiele 2.0 featuring Massimo Gori (bass, guitar, vocals) and Luciano Poltini (keyboards) who played on the third album "Aquile e scoiattoli" in 1978. In the glorious progressive tradition, this is a concept dedicated to the figure of Niccolò Paganini, the famous and devilish violinist, a sort of rock star ante litteram. The group also includes talented violinist Elena Aiello and Marco Biggi on drums. The beautiful cover is the work of Gino Andrea Carosini (a connoisseur of progressive and also of weird literature) and Marco "Mostro" Mastroianni. The internal drawings in the booklet are also truly refined. Musically, "Paganini Experience" follows in the path of symphonic prog indebted to the lessons of ELP. In the opening track "Inno," we find a real homage to Keith Emerson with an extended citation from "The Endless Enigma" (from "Trilogy"). All subsequent tracks chronologically follow the life of Paganini starting from his childhood with "Via del colle." Even in "L’ora delle Tenebre," we find clear references to ELP ("Tarkus"). "Cantabile" is instead a violin interlude. In "Porto di notte," a "Santana"-esque guitar is very prominent. "Danza di luce" is the highlight of the album, a mini-suite that includes variations on Paganini's Caprice No. 24 and features Aldo De Scalzi (during the listening, "Concerto Grosso" by the New Trolls came to mind!). "Angel" is then a cover of Jimi Hendrix, a musician some have compared to Paganini. The album closes with "Cantabile" again centered around Elena Aiello's violin. "Paganini Experience" is not bad (even though, for my taste, it sounds too pop at times) and definitely deserves a listen.