SENSITIVA IMMAGINE

SENSITIVA IMMAGINE ( Sensitive Image ) is one of those bands that is known to have formed in Bologna in 1975 and was considered a very entertaining live act with excellent symphonic prog compositions and a stage presence that made use of costumes in the vein of Osanna or Genesis. One unique feature of this band is that despite the widespread popularity of Italian prog in the 70s, virtually no bands emerged from the city of Bologna, but this one did and to make things even more mysterious it's completely unknown when the band released its one and only album titled E TUTTO COMINCIO COSI ( And It All Began Like This ).

The band's sole album was released as a self-produced cassette only in the beginning and was pretty much only sold at their live performances. The original cassette featured no credits and when a proper CD was finally released it only mentioned four performers when the band was proven to consist of Alfredo Olivieri (vocals), Massimo Buriani (guitar), Stefano Bertonazzi (keyboards), Andrea Pavinato (bass) and Franco Buriani (drums). The first CD reissue came in 1991 by the Japanese Melos label as the prog revival years were underway and has seen a few more reissues with bonus tracks over the years.

With a stronger influence from the English symphonic prog groups, SENSITIVA IMMAGINE sounded closer to Genesis than its own nation's symphonic prog bands however lyrics were in Talian and despite the English connections delivered a rather unique style that sounds like a precursor to the neo-prog bands of the 80s (especially Fish-era Marillion) in the keyboard department. The album starts off with extreme keyboard heft that crafts a bombastic atmospheric effect, the kind that many neo-prog bands would later use. The tracks are all excellently written and although the Genesis influences are the most apparent, the band does showcase some of the classic RPI techniques as well.

While an excellent release, it is bogged down by a couple of things. One is that the production could've been much better however the newer releases have done a decent if not perfect job of restoring some of the lost dynamics. Secondly lead vocalist Alfredo Olivieri sings in the classic operatic style that his fellow Italian prog vocalists did but he didn't quite have the range to match the greats in the biz, most likely the main factor why this band didn't find record label interest. Despite the late 70s finding prog decline many bands were still able to crank out an album or two (Locanda delle Fate, Gramigna, I Cocai). For an underground cassette-only release this is excellent and personally i prefer this much more than anything Genesis did itself. It's more dynamic and much more inventive and eschews an overly pastoral approach. Highly recommended for those going for the deep dive of Italian prog of the 70s.

The mediocre album cover does nothing to reveal the craftmanship inside...Sensitiva Immagine weave a complex yet conventional progressive rock sequence on their only production. "Intro (inedito)" commences the festivities with a chorus of analogue synthesizers, singing guitar lines and calculated piano. The song segues seamlessly to "Overture" which is a good representation of the album as a whole; dynamic drumming, imaginative guitar playing, and a wealth of keyboard sounds are in abundance on E Tutto Comincio Cosi. After an initial blitz of instrumental achievement, the song breaks with a softly strummed acoustic guitar. Vocals finally enter and are rendered in a very tasteful and pleasant way. A long fade-in opens "Harlem," which continues the symphonic execution and ups the ante with some skillful organ work. "Harlem" takes many twists and turns during its relatively brief exposition, while the lengthy "Al Confini Del Mondo" allows ideas more time to fully develop.

Another "Intro (inedito)" piece acts as an interlude before "Storia Di..." and a more crowd- friendly sound appears. The song is not really commercial, but much more succinct and jovial than its predecessors. "La Favola Di Narcisio Ed Eco" impresses with a balladic approach at first, and transforms into a Genesis-circa-Nursery-Cryme exercise by its end. The more original "E Tutto Comincio Cosi" closes the original album running order; the sensational instrumental may well be my favorite on the disc. Though the Kaliphonia CD offers some bonus tracks, do not hesitate to snatch up the Melos CD instead, should one become available on the second-hand market. Though this now-collectible fetches high prices on the auction circuit, it is worth every penny for hardcore RPI collectors and even general Symphonic Prog completists; E Tutto Comincio Cosi is that good.

What we are talking about here is some first class Symphonic Rock with an adventurous and rich sound and heavy GENESIS influences.So heavy that guitarist Massimo Buriani uses STEVE HACKETT trembling techniques and even more keyboardist Stefano Bertonazzi almost plagiarizes TONY BANKS' moog synth solos.But this ends up to be the only negative point of this re-issue.The band performs in the Classic Symphonic Prog style of their heros with extreme energy, inspiration and talent plus the intricate romanticism the Italian vocals add.Impressive symphonic interludes, haunting melodies, plenty of warm acoustic passages, magnificent moog synthesizers and guitar solos, dominant organs when needed and excellent composition skills characterizes this lost-in-time album.There are also strong similarities with Italian fellow progsters NUOVA ERA,especially on the Classical-inspired harsichord/piano parts and the intense vocal parts of Alfredo Olivieri.The production and possible re-mastered work on the CD is pretty good and finally presents a band with a massive sound all over the place and its overall very tight delivery.

If you are a GENESIS-freak of ''Selling England by the pound'' era,I cant have words to describe tour happiness if listening to this work.''E Tutto Comincio Cosi'' plus the bonus material recorded by the band back in the second half of the 70's is one of the better examples of beautiful and dramatic Symphonic Rock,yet far from original.Still the band deseves a very high recommendation.

I have to congratulate whoever remastered these songs for CD because the sound is impeccable, very clear and balanced.Not only the band had terrific players, but also they could write great tunes. Alfredo Olivieri sings with passion and conviction and although he is not an outstanding singer, he fits perfectly into the group´s sound. Massimo Buriani deserves a special mention for his brilliant guitar playing (very much influenced by Steve Hackett) with some fantastic solos and tasteful acoustic interventions. Production is also very good for the time. The bonus tracks are a nice addition too.

Conclusion: one hell of a good CD! A great find and a pleasure to hear from start to finish. If you´re into italian prog of the 70´s this is surely a must have. If like prog music in genral you should listen to this obscure, but great one shot band. Final rating: 4,5 stars. Highly recommended!

This one fully belongs to the description as well. One little piece back in late mid-seventies, and gone was "Sensitiva Immagine". The music proposed here fully shares the bill of the usual suspects from the genre. There are of course some fine and melodic parts, but mixed with more upbeat (even wild) passages like during the impressive "Overture".

The mood is softer during the long "Ai Confini Del Mundo". Peaceful vocals and very soft keyboard play provides a lot of delicacy to this tune which also features an almost classical part before the sweet finale. The second highlight from this album.

"La Favola?" which sounds very much like the early "Genesis" shows moving instrumental sections and as usual with most good Italian bands, the melody catches all of your senses. Very good track again.

The original album closed on the instrumental title track. The mood is a bit darker but still very much oriented to the symphonic scene ("Genesis" again, and to a lesser extent "Camel" or even "Fruupp"). The band was also using masks during their live sets (don't look no further for their filiation).

The bonus tracks are not too bad: "Intro" which opens the re-edition is another good piece of music (but there was already "Overture" as opening of the original recording), "Quel Que Resta" is a tranquil rock ballad, the additional version of "Harlem" is supposedly the first one recorded by the band. But to have reduced the live version of the title track to a meagre two minutes is something I can't cope with. The less enjoyable is the instrumental "La Giornata" which features a drum solo

In all, each Italian symphonic prog lover should enjoy this very pleasant album.

Four stars.

The best of Sensitiva Immagine is represented by the memorable melodies of "Overture", "La Favola Di Narcisio", and the title track, which will have you humming its main theme all day, while "Harlem" and "Storia Di" seem unfocused and never really deliver on their promise. The obvious centrepiece "Al Confini del Mondo" is nice but not more. The bonus tracks are a mixed bag as well, the best being "Quel Che Resta" and, of course, the live reprise of "E Tutto".

While not quite a classic, this is still a worthwhile addition to your Italian collection, at least if you are someone with even the slightest amount of unimagined sensitivity.

My rating: 4.7/5.0