Musea Rec. 
London Underground : Honey Drops (I,2010)****/***'
This is already the third album by this new progressive/psychedelic band who seems to improvise a bit around a few self-penned and most often known or lesser known more progressive rock tunes with the domination of the skilful Hammond organ playing (besides a bit of piano and clavinet) of Gianluca Gerlini. Through the prepared arrangements there are also enough surprises in the rhythm section by Alessandro Gimignani with Fario Baini on electric bass.
With an extra keyboard melody on the interpretation of Arthur Brown's “Fanfare” the arrangement on this first track sounds more symphonic-progressive than the other to follow tracks, mostly the interpretations give a more improvised, just slightly jammed nature, with however enough well prepared differences to entertain and surprise throughout. The tunes have something recognisable but all the arrangements have their own way of treating the tracks, it is the Hammond organ which most of the time comes to the fore, like the lead singer in a band.
Brian Auger's “Ellias Island” sounds rather bluess-jazzy swinging with a slightly exotic flavour and funky guitar. Even more playful is Cannonball Adderly's “Jive Samba” which is played with some additional and subtle mellotron. It shows well produced exotic rhythms, and has some funky guitar element. It is a bit arranged like some TV show's comic musical fun (like there existed in the late 60s in Italy) especially through its “padapadaa” backing vocals. It has a fast poly-rhythmic rhythm section, including a bit of steel pan. It is very well arranged with an exotic touch, a rhythmical feast.
The band's own tune “Honey Drops” is also treated with some young ambition, with a pushing groove in the rhythms, some orchestrations and mellotron while the Hammond organ and the groove itself leads as partners.
John Barry's kind of ending tune “Midnight Cowboy” gets a Hammond treatment with strummed guitar and additional mellotron as the second voice and some good drumming. This is all done in a very entertaining way. Next is Eden Rose's “Faster and Faster” led by the becoming fast Hammond and drums and bass. This track gives once more a more improvised feeling, but it has some breaks and changes in sound. I am not sure if I hear an electric violin too in the background, it is the hammond organ lead which remains the dominant voice. The band also improvises on Jethro Tull's “Dharma for One”. Also here is some sax improvisation added which is more quietly mixed into the background letting the organ dominate with its power. One more tune which is improvised upon is on Arzachel's “Queen St.Gang”with a well fitting pop/rock rhythm, and with the tune led once more by Hammond organ : clearly played joyfully. “St.Helens” with stick driven electronics is a bit stranger and more psychedelic. Well arranged, in a partial Hammond-led improvised way is The Beatles' “Norwegian Wood”. It has an interesting break where a sitar with tampura takes over the theme shortly only to return to the groovy Hammond. This is followed by a last outro arrangement. As a bonus there's also a “Java Samba” radio edit, one of the single-like tracks worth taking out.
The band clearly worked with joy and skills on this, have something original that fits well next to what has been played and enjoyed before in the early seventies.
Guests include Stefano Negri on sax on two tracks, and Riccardo Cavalieri on acoustic and electric guitars and violas, Sergio Taglioni on moog, mellotron and synful orchestra, electronics and other threatments.
