CONTRAPPUNTI

Le Orme in 1974, Release to the Market the disc titled Contrappunti, without a doubt one of more classic discs, of this Italian group that is formed by Toni Pagliuca Keyboards, Aldo Tagliapietra - voice, bass and acoustic guitar, Michi Dei Rossi - Drums and supported percussions and in this occasion by the great pianist Gian Piero Reverberi, in some songs in the production of this disc.

I consider that this is one of the highest points in his discography, comparable with the Felona e Sorona and Uomo di Pezza, nevertheless, is one more a work abstruse and difficult to listen, in some parts also I believe that it contains much of the elements (embryonic even), of Le Orme 77-80, mainly in the acoustic parts, but in any case in this album it has for all the tastes of the Progressive Rock, from frontal attacks with the Hammond of Pagliuca (e.g. Contrappunti, Maggio), progressive acoustic ballads, with a romantic and delicate touch by part the skillful voice of Tagliapietra (e.g. Frutto Acerbo, La Fabricante d' Angeli), and melodies very "sui generis" for the leormenian rank (e.g. Aliante). Independently of the previous thing it is without a doubt the last great disc of the most progressive stage of Le Orme, and in some songs this is simply impressive. Even so I believe that the disc has a species of concept although he is not very apparent at first sight, but start from Aliante I feel that a musical connection with the rest of the work exists, since the harmonies are very similar in certain musical intervals, also is the last complete album of 70's with that sound so characteristic of the keyboard of Pagliuca, in the style of ELP and also in which the keyboard player takes the lead role with the prominence of these to the front of the disc; of all ways I believe that the disc in comment is one of key albums of the discography of Le Orme, less symphonic than Felona e Sorona, and in parts seemed, but nonequal to Uomo di Pezza, an impressive work in the department of the percussions on the part of Dei Rossi, and reason for which is considered, one of the best drummers of Italy. The bass playing of Tagliapietra is a little more discreet, reliable here in most of the disc, but effective when it is required, the keyboards of Pagliuca, simply delicious, with much work in the organ Hammond and the synths and demonstrating so what's why of the great ones in the keyboards is considered, the voice of so characteristic good Tagliapietra... that voice on the part of and that I admire excessively, like always of the best thing, and one of the elements by which Le Orme is unique like group.

Here also it is good that the work of pianist Gian Piero Reverberi stands out, without a doubt demonstrating that he is one of the best pianists than has participated in an album of Progressive Rock, its quality, speed and sense of melody, harmony and stamps, characterize it, as well as total integration to the group, so that if one did not know that this collaborating in the group, easily this great pianists would think that it is the same Pagliuca touching in overdubbing, also participated in the production of this disc that in general terms this good done, emphasizing all the instruments and very polished in some aspects (e.g. the principle of the song India). As it notices additional is necessary to comment about the cover that remembers me to Vesubio volcano, and that in some parts of the songs, mainly in Notturno and Maggio when listening to them imagined the previous hours to me of the eruption of this volcano in Pompeya, due to the tenebrous thing of the indicated subjects, nevertheless the song of Maggio speaks of another thing reason why this commentary is fruit of my imagination, nevertheless I invite them to listen to them and figure out those previous hours in the Roman city.... In aim I believe that this it is an indispensable album of this great grouping, with subjects strong, difficult to listen, a little introvert, with many elements of counterpoint, with very interesting Progressive rates, sometimes surpassing the fact in Felona e Sorona and that, without a doubt it does not have to lack in any Progressive collection that boasts of being it.

Then we happen to the songs: 1. - Contrappunti. - The subject that opens to east singular disc of Le Orme, hairdo with a keyboard player and a pianist, really does honor to the title of the song, and immediately later a frontal attack on the part of Pagliuca begins and Reverberi, alternating notes and contra punting themselves, whereas Dei Rossi is taking the agreed rhythm to the intensity shown on the part of these musicians, Tagliapietra is marking the rate without greater relief, and it is really the most impressive piece of the album, very complex, very in the style of Keith Emerson and with much Hammond organ. Much is enjoyed the resistance between the acoustic piano Reverberi and the keyboards of Pagliuca, accentuated by the magnify rhythm of Dei Rossi, and I consider that he is one of the best tracks of the disc and also one of melodies of all the Italian Progressive Rock, touched with force, rate and white heat is something that nobody must be lost. Excellent.

2. - Frutto acerbo. - One fine ballad on the part of Tagliapietra and Co and which I consider is one of the seals that define the music of Le Orme, very good lyrics written on the part of the famous bassist, an example: ... repeat to my to father that the soup is getting cold... silence toward home, his cold hand... and ... the to winter then came behind the sun, great and white... how much, how much love was bursting inside me....

And here it touches the acoustic guitar, with simple arpeggio of notes creating an excellent sample of how the romantic element of Italian music, combined with the Progressivism of Le Orme, produces a true work of musical art, I consider that of the disc is the song and the musical landscapes that produce the intonation of Tagliapietra he is simply dreaming. Melancholic and winter very pastoral song and in short whiles, and that probably would serve as example for disc songs future like Verita Nacoste or the fact in Storia or Leggenda, but with null poppier influences. The piano of here very atmospheric Pagliuca, touching some musical rings, and notes that adapt perfectly with the atmosphere of the song. The Mellotron here also creates very evocative although discreet landscapes. Very good.

3. - Aliante. - Different Melody that the group records in this work, I believe is the filling in this disc, with a rate of 7/8 in the style of the fact by Genesis in Supper's Ready mainly in the part of Apocalypse in 9/8, Pagliuca again standing out with the work of the keyboards and creating one melody that was listened to start off now in all the other following songs, I believe that here that sensation of concept begins that many we felt that it has implicit east album, by an apparent continuity between song and song, the drums of Dei Rossi is following the guidelines indicated by the keyboard and it is limited to follow the interval imposed by the keyboards, even so I believe that it is the subject less shining of all the disc, but in short whiles he is enjoyable, the remarkable thing is that he is something that Le Orme had not made good but nonexceptional before. Regular.

4. - India. - We happened to another one of the best songs of the disc with this evocative melody to the Asian country, without a doubt it is explored with the Eastern rates that for the first time make their appearance in the discography of the Italian group in comment, an exquisite electrical bass work on the part of Tagliapietra, taking a very strange but effective rhythm and this accompanying by good harmonies of the synthesizer of Pagliuca, and trying to imitate the sound of sitar in the keyboards, combined to the rate that to the being in a scale different from the western one, leaves a mystery feeling and of penumbra... also a precarious atmosphere throughout all the song is created with elements that above commented lines, but the only thing that I did not like is that the duration of the song is so short, even so is of the best thing in this work. Very Good

5. - La Fabbricante d'Angeli. - From this point all the songs of the album in comment, are of first level and we began with this skillful composition, without a doubt of the best thing than Le Orme do in this disc, excellent Lyrics, that are enjoyed although the Italian language is not known, as well as a splendid work of Pagliuca in the keyboards, in truth the excellent voice of Tagliapietra creates a celestial atmosphere that transmits the song to the listener and the drumming here in a very effective work, but discreet, without a doubt one of the best moments of the disc, intro of the monumental pianos is very similar to the fact by Triumvirat in its disc Pompeii very symphonic, very dreaming and very poetic this is another one of the basic songs of the disc and I feel that it's one of the predecessor of the style of another great Italian group: Loccanda Della Fate. Very Good.

6. - Notturno. - Another instrumental of Le Orme and that seemed outtake of Felona e Sorona, excellent sample of the use of moog to create tetrical and bleak landscapes, a very dark instrumental piece, beginning by a very solitary introduction of piano and later is raising in intensity of the dark, I insist that this melody makes me feel as if was in the previous hours of Pompeya before being devastated by Vesubius volcano, as if the city and to the bottom was explored in the dark, in the firmament vesubius on the verge of making eruption. Very Good.

7. - Maggio. - The song that closes the disc and is one of the masterpieces of Le Orme, comparable to Contrappunti, without a doubt competes with this to be best track of the disc... and of the discography of Le Orme, excellent work in the keyboards of Pagliuca, is listened to dispersed elements of Yes throughout this suite, mainly as of the minute the 2:30, very fine really work of the keyboards here. A letter that speaks on the political situation and several topics, typical of Italy of 70's, very good bass work of Tagliapietra and of course the drumming of Michi that is excellent, maintaining the rate on the one hand and adding percussive rings that make greater the song, mainly in the solo of keyboard of Pagliuca as of minute 5:10, the incredible use of the double big drum of this great teacher of the drums. I believe that it is the song that shows the diversity, the dynamism and the magic (like the song) of Le Orme, as well as all the musical, lyrical and intellectual elements that they have like group, if they want to become a general concept of how Le Orme is and they have never listened to them, the this a serious ideal introduction. As a side note is one of the live favorites of the group, unfortunately I have not listened to it, but I have read that Tagliapietra was inspired by the Italian political situation that reigned in those years Excellent.

To way of end of this review, there is no doubt that Le Orme did with this one of its more difficult discs for the listener, but once it studies it discovers that this is one of best discs than they recorded this group with very complex compositions and imaginative and that they was the last of them of this type in 70's... were not breathtaking solo instrumental, but that is more of a group effort, leaving in background their egos to create magnify essential music and if someone want to know this great Italian band.