PALEPOLI

What's the meaning for the title "PALEPOLI"? It's not so difficult to say.the band's origins are in Neaples which was named by the ancient greek settlers: "Nea Polis" means "New City". Palepoli is an opposite meaning "Ancient City" from the greek words "Palea Polis". That's their challenge: to represent the purest spirit and the most ancient face of the "Parthenopean" city of Neaples. This is the sense of that strong Mediterranean influence which makes the album a unique example of all tha Italian prog scene of the seventies.

I was wondering what does represent the album cover.an opened window to.it seems to me part of the famous renaissance Babel's Tower painted by Pieter Brugel the Older in 1563. The Bible's Chapters on the Humanity's Origin from which derives this scene, represent the origin of the foundation of the ancient cities and empires.also represents men's greatest arrogance against God. For that reason He punished them confounding their languages!

Does then the album represent a critical description of the wrong and deep-rooted aspects of the famous vesuvian city? Osanna's imaginery is somehow oscure and it's not easy to understand the lyrics' meaning! I can found many social, political (even ecologist) themes.don't understand the fulcrum of the concept completely!

By the way this is the first Italian opera-rock of the seventies, very similar in its structure to albums like Thick as a Brick or A Passion Play. People usually compare it with those Jethro Tull's works. I have a different opinion yet, not only the music parts but even the atmospheres being quite different. Similaritie can be found only in some flute and guitars interludes. Sometimes the band appears to show some Van der Graaf Generator's influence, expecially for the great sax playing provided by Elio D'Anna and for some darker and sinister compositions. Others could see affinities with Balletto di Bronzo and even King Crimson. I'm sure that's not the point, yet! Palepoli is an original piece of art!

All the concept is played with remarkable equilibrium, a great mix between the stronger and harder electric parts and other more acoustic and intimate folk movements.

What could I say more? Let's take another listen to this "MIRABILIS" 1973 opus!

Share this OSANNA review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Andrea Cortese
• Report this review (#59691)
• Buy OSANNA music online with PA partners
• Show all OSANNA MP3/Stream
• Go to OSANNA page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Palepoli page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for OSANNA related discussions