Latte E Miele - Passio Secundum Mattheum

Year of Release: 2003
Label: Akarma Records
Catalog Number: AK 1041
Format: CD
Total Time: 38:49:00

This is amazing music! What totally blows me away is the fact that Latte E Miele was just a trio. This magnificently reproduced 180-gram vinyl LP on Akarma Records keeps the original artwork presentation and sound intact on the Italian prog-rockers first effort Passio Secundum Mattheum. In 1972 (Polydor, 523 694-2), Yes had released their masterwork Fragile, so surely bands such as this were considered obscure in comparison. They fell into the cracks never reaching the audience they should have, as many other worthy bands did. I think it is time to take a harder look at the importance of groups like this that contributed to the development of the definition ?progressive? in rock music, even though their status was not as elevated as legendary bands from the U.K. and U.S.

I was not discouraged at all listening to the vocals in Italian, so it had to be very good, which it most definitely was. The vocal workouts are simply gorgeous by the entire group so understanding what they were singing about really did not matter to me. Their music was sublime, with sounds ranging from neo-classical prog-rock, industrial-metal-rock (although non-existent at that time, it was an indication of how advanced they were) and full-blown prog-rock workouts with the vocal parts opera. I found their sound very engaging without fail throughout the run of this entire album. It was always in evolution sounding different on every track. I found the cover art quite thought provoking and colorful as well. It served as another component to their musical endeavors, and actually complimented the ambiance created on this recording. Possibly Picasso could have inspired them? Whatever it was that drove them to make such original music, it worked.

Tracklisting:
Side One: Introduzione (2:16) / Il Giorno Degli Azzimi (1:26) / Ultima Cena (1:48) / Getzemani (4:14) / Il Processo (1:29) / I Testimoni, Pt. 1 (6:02)

Side Two: I Testimoni, Pt. 2 (2:12) / Il Pianto (1:48) / Giuda (0:43) / Il Re Dei Giudei (1:40) / Il Calvario (7:04) / Il Dono Della Vita (3:43) / Bonus Tracks: Mese Di Maggio (4:24) / Tanto Amore

Musicians:
1972-74:
Oliviero Lacagnina - keyboards, vocals
Marcello Della Casa - guitar, bass, vocals
Alfio Vitanza - drums, flute, vocals

1976:
Mimmo Damiani - keyboards, guitar, vocals
Luciano Poltini - keyboards, vocals
Massimo Gori - bass, guitar, vocals
Alfio Vitanza - drums, acoustic guitar, vocals

Discography:
Passeo Secundum Mattheum (1972/1996)
Papillon (1973/1992/2003)
Aquile E Scoiattoli (1976/1992)
Live (rec. 1974/ rel 1992)
Vampyrs (rec 1979 / rel. 1992)
Trilogy: The Complete Works (2003) (4cd box)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin IT

Added: November 2nd 2003
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website:
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Language: english