PLANETARIUM

The album starts with "The Beginning" a mysterious intro based on keyboards and corals which opens the way to the very quiet and floating "Life", built on a jazzy piano, chorus and a great work on guitar and flute.

Then we find the two parts of "Man". The first one is a brief intro based on an almost classical acoustic guitar. The second part is a 3 minute delicate and floating song leaded by flute. Perhaps there are not surprises here, the music is very pretty (almost romantic) and it has most of the classic RPI elements.

"Love" and "War" are another two simple but enjoyable pieces based on piano and acoustic string arrangements, not much inspired IMO. Things change a little with the three last tracks where we find more inclusion of electric arrangements even close to some psychedelic standards which enriches the folk elements of the previous tracks.

At last, a very enjoyable album not at the level of the Italian masterpieces of early 70's even when it has some really great moments? 3*

For a long time no one knew the very identity of these musicians, because no line up was represented on LP cover. The only one thing due to musicians was a certain A. Ferrari which was presented as the composer of all tracks. This was a marketing action for try to appear as an English band, a dream that belonged to all Italian 70s musicians. In fact the the titles of the album are in English and also the name of the album. Maybe the record company thought to sell more with this action. The truth upon the identity of musicians was discovered only recently. Their record company, the "Victory", was released at that time only albums for two bands and one artist. The bands was naturally Planetarium and a beat band called "Scooters". And here we discovered that this "A. Ferrari" was a member of Scooters. Not really a coincidence to be produced both by the same record company. Rounding out the band there are Mirko Mazza and Franco Sorrenti, always from Scooters; the other two members, Piero Repetto and Giampaolo Pesce, come from another band the "Miguel".

The album is a Concept and sometimes it couldn't appear really Prog oriented, but certainly it is a kind of Art Rock with interesting Prog moments enclosing inside two "souls", one more calm which sounds more "orchestral" , classic guitar and flute, the other whit more Prog attitude, characterized by beautiful keyboards. So why it is considered Prog? One answer could (surely) be for "Infinity" suite an the song "The Moon". Personally I'd like to add, also thanks to the opening song "The Beginning" and the Beautiful "Life". We talked about Concept Album, in fact it could be considered as the passage that the man makes on Earth, from The Beginning of his time walking towards the Infinite.

The opening song, as its title says, marks "The Beginning" of this journey. With a thunder starts a storm, also for the man which prepare himself to live his life with all its facets. An organ and a chorus line introduce the man into the whirl of existence with all its choices to do and the questions that characterize human intelligence. The rain falls dawn and the song "Life" sounds with a classic guitar theme accompanied by keyboard that seems a musical box and flute, in an atmosphere that offers a sweet scenario of a childhood lived. The second part is marked by a bongo that seems to sound like a "tribal heart", with a primordial lament accompanied by a beautiful piano groove. This crescendo of sound explodes silently in a beautiful guitar solo that vaguely resembles Robert Fripp. Here makes its appearance the fascinating "Man", divided in two movements. It is characterized by a classic guitar theme that let in my mind the figure of a man lonely, in searching of possible solutions to his questions and finally find them. The same theme is taken up also by flute, and after a few second of an "orchestral setting passage" also by piano.

The A side ends with the song "Love", a real classical piece that remember sometimes the future masterpiece "Contaminazioni" by "Il Rovescio Della Medaglia". The romance of this track describes perfectly an inevitable stage of the man's life.

The B side, certainly more lively, starts with the song "War". A siren sounds the alarm for the battle and a dark rhythm with some bomb explosions and machine guns describes well the war atmospheres. After this reflection about the war, theme so in vogue in that period (had just finished the 68 with its revolutions in Italy still alive) they offer us another good piece characterized by their style, dedicated to the moon. Probably each man has turned his thought at least one time to the moon.

The album ends with the suite (11 minutes) "Infinity", an interesting piece where the keyboards and the piano of Alfredo Ferrari create a memorable sound not bored the listener. The second part is characterized by a mixture of guitar and organ following the main theme with some chorus parts. So the man fly toward the infinite of his existence, but as cyclical in his being he was born and die until the end of times, and in the same way the song presents again the opening theme, as if to remind us that everything ends up sooner or later starts again.

The Prog Rock is so wide that often it merges, as its soul wants to, with different styles and genres to create splendid Works. Certainly this is not the case of Planetarium. This is not a monumental Work such those to which the Giant of Prog have accustomed us, no, this is a good job with many good ideas, this is an intellectual album (unfortunately only instrumental) that is appeared in a primordial period of Italian Rock scene still with no definite Prog identity. This is another example of an Italian 70s band that wanted to be Great as the English Giants of Progressive Rock. I think that with this album they have created with personality a little corner to be remembered in Prog Rock, but surely they have so much space to be appreciated in RPI.

4 Stars - Really so far away from being a noteworthy job? Absolutely no!

Not exactly a concept album,as ''Infinity'' contains only sporadic wordless vocals,this one features strongly linked music pieces,all related to life's journey.The music is soft and dreamy in an Orchestral Rock vein ,not far from the Classical-influenced pieces of IL PAESE DEI BALOCCHI,with a lust for changing moods from mellow Classical themes to sombre acoustic passages.Despite its smooth character,''Infinity'' is a well-executed and ethereal listening with fantastic work by Ferrari on organ but especially mellotron and piano with his themes having often a cinematic vibe.Two guitarists are listed in Planetarium,but the guitar work is mostly limited to melancholic acoustic trippy explorations,surrounded by Ferrari's orchestral arrangements, and the few electric parts are quite dreamy and interesting with a psychedelic edge.A few compositions contain sound effects,flutes and wind instruments,making the whole feeling even more cinematic.

Four out of the album's tracks were released on two 1971 singles by Victory,but unfortunately Planetarium did not proceed on further recordings and disbanded shortly after these releases.

''Infinity'' is a daring album,regarding the year of its release,not outdated at all, with its own approach on the word ''Grandiosity''.If you are a fan of Classical Music and trippy keyboard- driven prog,the album is very close to your tastes.Warmly recommended.

"The Beginning" opens with thunder claps as the storm rolls in. Organ before a minute then vocal melodies join in. "Life" opens with the sound of rushing water as acoustic guitar and piano come in. Sounds like flute too. It changes after 2 1/2 minutes as percussion then piano take over. Vocal melodies join in. Mellotron,drums and guitar arrive 5 minutes in and this is the best part of the album for me. "Man-Part 1" is pastoral with acoustic guitar melodies and floating organ. "Man-Part 2" has the same melody but we get mellotron this time. A change before 1 1/2 minutes as piano and mellotron take over.

"Love" is melancholic with piano and mellotron. Acoustic guitar too. "War" opens with sirens then drums and gun fire follows before 1 1/2 minutes. Mellotron late then it ends as it began. "The Moon" has a dynamic intro with drums, organ and vocal melodies. Then silence. Some good electric guitar after 2 minutes with drums and organ but it's brief. "Infinity" opens with organ. Percussion 1 1/2 minutes in as organ continues. Some vocal melodies then we get guitar, bass and drums. Mellotron and thunder ends it.

An interesting album to say the least, just not one I enjoy a lot. Mellotron fans will certainly find lots to like here.

The record is actually boring, even though there are some interesting moments: I'm referring to tracks like "Love", in the end anyhow mawkish, and "The Moon".

Nothing very exciting about this particular album, no true musical masterpieces, just a bunch of instrumental tracks, that miss the point most of the time, sounding repetitive and pointless in their structure not to mention that unfortunately the musicians skills seems quite limited, and not so inventive. The production sounds very very dated

No virtuoso playing in "planetarium", just catchy prog harmonies. I can say thanks to my unforgettable PROG-NET friend times Kosek that the most preeminent so called Mediterranean melodic comes also from famous Italian movie sound track and orchestra composer ENNIO MORRICONE influence. His music I suppose to be essential to RPI culture. Anyway INFINITY created a prog style difficult to be compared; it's indeed ahead of its 1971 time release. Even the cover is !

The concept has prophetic or cosmic mood : planet earth and Man geneses. At the 6th part "war" alert us how man without love in heart can kill each other...

The record is a bit repetitive and easy listening. Some moments like "life" are in the vein of what in the future would be called "new age" music. But we are in 1971 ! Later with CELESTE "Principe di un giorno" (1976, ****1/2) some type of this style appeared in music scene. Oh, 1971 in Italy has also the fantastic PANNA FREDDA, please see my review of IL BALLETTDI BRONZO "sirio2222" for others seminal Italians references.

The way I see it,is if you play a Van Der Graaf before this,and King Crimson after this,,this would feel like you being able to put your car in cruise control and actually have a chance to watch the scenery around you and relax.This gives you a pleasant nice flowing break.( Before mayhem starts again.)

Great musicianship,and yes indeed the soundtrack for my drive ,where I wanna actually see my surroundings.The more pleasant surroundings that is.

Bought this on I-Tunes along with Hoelderlins-Rare Bird,and put the 2 purchases on the same disc having Hoelderlin following Planetarium.Fits very nicely.The landscape gets a little more rugged though,but still a great ride.

I put 3 *,but it's more like 3 1/2.

Great stuff.

This album is almost all instrumental and therefore its relation with Italian symph is not really evident but for sure, the music you will discover is genuinely seventies oriented with lush keyboards (listen to these fine mellotron lines during ''Life'') and skilled guitar play: both electric as well as acoustic, like during the pastoral and sweet ''Man'' which shows some classical influences with the use of string instruments.

At times, this work almost sound as a soundtrack like during the mellow but moving.''Love''. Accordingly, ''War'' features some predictable gunfire sounds to illustrate the theme as well as sirens screams. Not very creative I should say.

''The Moon'' is the first track to feature some vocalize and fine melody but this is far to be an exceptional track. I think that the band opted rightly for little vocals.

The closing track is divided into two different sections: while the first one features a harder keyboards attack, which is welcome after so much mellow music, the second part is totally upbeat, almost a furious jam with some jazzy flavour. It ends in a bombastic keyboards anthology.

This album is not a hidden gem of the Italian genre like there are many, but it is a pleasant album. No waves, no hurt: just good music. As such, three stars.

This 70's Italian group is a real mystery group: not even today are the band members names known. I can't but think that this must have been intentional. Maybe the idea has just been to add some mystery to the group. The music is almost completely instrumental. There are some vocals but there are not any lyrics. The musicians and instruments are not listed but there are, apart from the usual line-up of guitars, keyboards, bass and drums, also some classical instruments. Some parts of the music sound orchestrated. I especially like the nice mellotron and acoustic guitar parts in this album. This is a very mellow album and in some parts in the style of Celeste but not as good overall. Only some biting electric guitar parts interrupt the mellow atmosphere.

According to the liner notes the musicians devoted their attention to the birth and to the flow of life from its origin to its end in infinity, lingering a while upon some stages of this journey - the first rains, the first man on earth, love, war, the moon.

My favourite tracks are "Man" and "Love". Both are very beautiful and mellow tracks. However, this album is good from beginning to end. It's just not essential Italian prog because it doesn't compare with so many better groups from the same genre.

Conclusion: Not among the very best of 70's Italian groups but very good nevertheless.