The fifth album from this Italian band.
Taproban has always been associated with ELP like symphonic prog. And they will remain so after this album too. Although that is slightly misleading. But only slightly misleading. Taproban is a three piece band with keyboards, guitars, bass and drums. Lots of keyboards, I have to add. This is indeed a keyboards album where the other instruments are only playing a supporting role.
The music is not particular in the ELP vein either. The first of three compositions are a Genesis homage, no doubts. Genesis anno Foxtrot. Sixteen minutes of it too. The two other compositions on this forty five minutes long album is more a mixed bag to say at least. Although instrumental, there is a lot of avant-garde and zeuhl melody lines here too. Some vocals pops up on the final part of the final minutes here. A pretty pastoral composition too.
The first composition is almost a great composition. That if you love Genesis. The final two compositions is decent to good compositions and a bit of a let down. The end result is a good album which should appeal to anyone into symphonic prog. Get all five Taproban albums if that is your cup of tea. Strigma is not their best album.
3 points
In my opinion, Strigma is the best Taproban album and when you listen to the third track, "La porta sul buio", it seems that you're listening to real ELP; this is particularly true for the last 4 minutes of the track at the end of the album... I like it so much.
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