As I've mentioned a few times before, the 1990s hold many prog rock gems that were little known even back then, and now have been completely forgotten. Aria Palea is one of those bands. They released two albums in the late 90s and basically disappeared save perhaps a comp contribution. Many of the 90s bands took a page from the 70s Italian prog cookbook and then proceeded to record using modern production techniques. Not Aria Palea. While it's not retro prog in the purest sense, it definitely sounds more like an earlier album. The primary reason for this perception is that the predominant lead instrument is the flute, one of those timeless sounds that transcends current fads. The other is the decidedly Demetrio Stratos styled vocals, using a similar affectation. While not near as demonstrative as Alberto Piras (Deus Ex Machina), the overall impression remains. There's plenty of guitar to savor as well. Had you told me this was an archival album from 1976 originally destined for the Grog label, I would have believed it. And that's the story line here. If you're a fan of Italian progressive rock, this is one of those hidden titles you'll want to seek out. I also have the debut, which I'll eventually need to report back on as well.
Ownership: CD: 1998 Lizard. Jewel case. Unique die-cut-in-the-center lyric booklet.
1998 (first listen); 11/6/20 (review / new entry)
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