Le Orme
La Via Della Seta

I'm back to review this new album by Le Orme (?). I must say that I have always been a fan of this group, which I consider the best Italian progressive band, so much so that I went to see them last October in Rome at the Jailbreak after the departure of the historical voice of Aldo Pagliuca.

With Le Orme, I've experienced something similar to what happened with other bands I loved passionately, like the Beatles and Led Zeppelin; that is, at the peak of their success, I was too young to see them live, and now either they are dead, and the bands have dissolved, or I'm starting to get on in years. I must mention that "la via della seta" is not a bad piece of work; it's a concept album about the exchange of cultures that took place along those 8,000 km separating the Mediterranean from the Eastern Sea, not just a means of communication but also of cultural exchange.

The album is a true progressive record, enjoyable to listen to, played with instruments that are rarely used (you can find them online) and they made a limited edition of 999 vinyl copies, which is certainly not a money-making move. But I wonder what sense it makes to continue when the only original member left is Michi Dei Rossi. Spiliteri's voice is beautiful and performs well on the album, but unfortunately, it is not the magical voice of Aldo Tagliapietra.

In conclusion, it is a good album, well-played, but they are not Le Orme. There are bands that, without their iconic voice, lose their reason for existing, like Queen, The Police, The Verve, and others that escape me now. If they were to continue, it would be difficult to get used to albums without, I repeat, the magical voice (I can't think of any other adjectives).

Until next time.