YS

Extraordinary piece of symphonic rock with a reputation well-deserved, 'Ys' is a statement of modern music that went beyond prog rock, even beyond the concept album, and showed a living, breathing world and a chillingly good example of what a small rock ensemble had become capable of. And all by 1972.

The five tracks are a moody but ingeniously put-together continuum that stretches between hard-core group playing, rushing keyboards, dainty parlor antics, inspired spontaneity, wailing winged death-spirits and plain old good composition... this is Italian drama at its finest-- a mad, grand operone with plenty of rock grit and little of the schooled polish of Banco. And considering it was '72, the amount of avant garde elements are impressive, carefully worked into the heavy symph approach taken by drummer Stringa, bassist Manzari, guitarist Lino Aiello and the gifted organ, synths and piano of Gianni Leone. We're lured by the call of a Siren to Leone's slow fugue and clear voice, the band coming alive, jazz riffs and blazing synths side by side, a crystal piano above it, lock-in-step jams from Manzari and Stringa and huge energy from all on the fifteen minute 'Introduzione'. More carefully planned chaos in 'Primo Incontro' tailed by Leone's creepy harpsichord, and heavy psych of 'Secondo Incontro' which features a perfect use of the mellotron as an orchestral substitute instead of mere scenery. Unstoppable prog wonderlands 'Terzo Incontro' and 'Epiloga' race forward and throw it all in there; high complexity, contrasting passages and angled assaults.

Il Balletto di Bronzo is not unlike ELP if that band had been bolder and less concerned with having a career, and 'Ys' earns every bit of its praise. An experience not to be missed. The 1994 remaster contains negligible but decent 'La Tua Casa Comoda'.