Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Museo Rosenbach — Zarathustra
(Si Wan SRMC 1047, 1973/1998, CD)

Zarathustra Cover art

Although this Korean release is the fourth reissue of this album, its tenuous distribution still means that this, possibly the greatest Italian symphonic rock album of all time will still remain hard to find. There's very little more to say about an album of this caliber without starting to drool, if you can hunt this one down you'll be doing yourself an immense favor. This is certainly one of the most elaborate and truly amazing European rock albums of all time. Honestly, someone needs to reissue this and keep it available.

by Mike McLatchey, Published 1995-07-01

McLatchey's Second Tier

There are so many outstanding melodies and themes on this album that you get the impression the band might have gotten a little over judicious. As an example in the long suite on side 1 there's an absolutely insane rave up that explodes from the speakers that is faded out just about the time you catch your breath and almost seems like a lost opportunity. Zarathustra is, of course, one of the finest of the Italian progressive era of the 70s, in fact it's almost a definitive example, you have the big keyboards, both organ and Mellotron, a passionate and strong vocalist (still strong today too), a drummer who's clearly a jazzer and compositions that are both dramatic and rocking at once. It was also deep enough that I started out enjoying the title suite the most only to gravitate more to the three songs on the second side over many listens. I've also liked the really strong Nietzscheian overtones as well, which influence much more than just the title but tend to be the philosophical underpinning of the whole album, matching perfectly with the music's dark and epic moods. Wrap it up in one of the finest covers of the era (one you really have to see the original or a mock up to truly appreciate) and you have a perfect package.

by Mike McLatchey, Published 2015-10-29

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 7, 1998 releases, 1973 recordings

Related artist(s): Museo Rosenbach, Stefano "Lupo" Galifi

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.