Moonstone Project - Hidden In Time (CD)

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The fact that Matt Filippini has succeeded in enlisting all these legendary names (see album lineup) for the sessions/recordings of Hidden In Time deserves alone our appreciation, right? The high profile of these monstrously gifted musicians would solely speak for the whole album, but - since history has enough proven many stars don't always make a winning team - the music should speak for themselves. Some really 'retro' music, for today's standards…
Italian guitarist Matt Filippini started working on this idea in the mid-90s. By recording the Waves Of Mind demo he (then) had clearly in mind to point out some more-British-but-also-American 70's Rock pieces of music. With the valuable help of fellow Italian musicians Maurizio Corriga, Nik Mazzucconi with Alex Mori, a first draft was ready. But the best was yet to come, since no official album did see the light of day 'till the mid-00's…
When you get Graham Bonnet (RAINBOW, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, ALCATRAZZ, IMPELLITTERI, BLACKTHORNE, ANTHEM, TAZ TAYLOR BAND), Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE, BLACK SABBATH), Steve Walsh (KANSAS, STREETS), Kelly Keeling (MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, BATON ROUGE, GEORGE LYNCH) and Eric Bloom (BLUE OYSTER CULT) to sing on the songs you wrote…phewww…really wonder how the hell did he stay calm for the recording sessions…Wow, what a bold 'black' paragraph above…have mercy.
In addition, DEEP PURPLE's (and WHITESNAKE's and Gary Moore band's) living legend IAN PAICE, James Christian (HOUSE OF LORDS), Paul Shortino (singer for ROUGH CUTT and QUITE RIOT), the-one-and-only Carmine Appice (VANILLA FUDGE, KING KOBRA, CACTUS, BLUE MURDER, BECK, BOGERT AND APPICE) and bass virtuoso Tony Franklin (THE FIRM, BLUE MURDER, Jimmy Page) were last-minute additions to the roster, ready to record Time To Take A Stand (via the Majestic Rock label - 2006). Filippini - performed with Ian Paice's European club band for some gigs - wrote songs in both the RAINBOW / DEEP PURPLE/BAD COMPANY / FREE / WHITESNAKE and BLUE OYSTER CULT / MOLLY HATCHETT/TED NUGENT / CACTUS / Stevie Ray Vaughan style. If these names do not mean anything to you, I assume you're below your 30s; else, no excuses. Bonnet's singing on Not Dead Yet is ruthless, Hughes' vocals in Rose In Hell and Where Do You Hide The Blues You've Got? is an outrage, Steve Walsh's take on City Of Lites will hunt you, Shortino's temper in Pictures Of My Lonely Days shall leave you with your mouth open, Christian's 'Blues' vibe in Beggar Of Love will surprise you and Bloom's throat on On The Way To Moonstone will rock your guts out. The cover of FREE's Fire And Water (no 'international' guest here) is also in the mood.
Why all this bio? Well, this could be the review for the Hidden In Time CD, since it actually is a re-release of the 2006 debut, with three bonus tracks: a vocals-and-piano-only remake of Where Do You Hide The Blues You've Got?, a new cut in the general vein, Silent Hunter, (with Alessandro Del Vecchio on vocals) and a live version of BAD COMPANY's Can't Get Enough. Also, the cover artwork is new - and better, I feel - plus the whole package is more 'deluxe'. Is there a reason for this re-release in such short time?, someone may wonder. Well, yes, there is, since Time To Take A Stand did have petite - if any - promotion/distribution; imagine enough fans of the aforementioned artists did not even know its existence, eventually. So, if you're into 70s Hard Rock do not even think by-passing this release. You'll have a very good time, for sure.
P.S.: On second thought, a few words on Filippini's skills should be written down. Still, with all these names saying 'yes' to his call, who'd disbelieve bout his expertise?