All Prog From Italy Appreciation Thread

My review is produced using this release: PolyGram Italia s.r.l. Polydor 523 688-2

My Rating: 9,5/10 PA Rating: 5/5

Ok, another 9,5/10 (and for PA 5/5) but this is another general Prog Gem. Yes, Gem and not gem!!! Because Locanda Delle Fate "Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Più" is a really Gem of the Prog. It is a really good example of Romantic Symphonic Prog, in the vein of Barclay James Harvest (for the atmospheres) and Genesis (for the music) with a good Italian mentality. And for these reason is a Masterpiece. The Pianos, the moog (and the others keyboards), the guitars and the voices are immense and the drums is really power and precise. Not any musician is a teacher. Nevertheless put together they produce a direct, symphonic and really exciting music. More of a songs are a lot individual moments that give back big this album. For example the acoustic song "Non Chiudete A Chiave Le Stelle", sweet but powerful, Romantic and symphonic, Really exciting and yet ruthless!!! I should say it... Typically Italian!!! But also "A Volte Un Istante Di Quiete" and "Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Più" are in the same road, also if are works of group and electric. Like "Vendesi Saggezza" with a really romantic flute and a really good soli of electric guitar (a rhythmic duel with flute!!!). In all of the "Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Più" we listen to a Prog that pushes towards the emotion. TodayI listened similar music in the first album of the Hostsonaten, but without this immense magic!

One of the last albums of the Old Wave Of the Italian Prog (that died with PFM's "Passpartù") "Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Più" is a delay masterpiece but one of the most sincere examples of Italian music. Aged too well (surely very better than other Prog album) is another highly recommended gem for your heart and your discography.

RUSTICHELLI & BORDINI

Myreview is produced using this release: CD BMG 74321-98510-2

My Rating: 9/ 10 PA Rating: 5/5

If you think that the Prog is the Classic Music of the XX Century... Paolo Rustichelli & Carlo Bordini's "Opera Prima" is an album of Classic Music. Otherwise... Is Classic Music. I love this album and I think that this two guys conceiving a so simple album have hit the center of all Progsters hearts. The exact genre is Symphonic Heavy RPI Prog. But this is only a good detail because in truth "Opera Prima" is a good album of "Richard Wagner Prog". In fact in this album is lacking only a song... "The Rides Of The Valkyries"!!! But in truth is present "Un Cane", That is "The Rides..." Of Rustichelli & Bordini!!! "Un Cane" have a Symphonic rhythms and a grandiloquent keyboard parts with very emotional emphasis!!! And the other songs? I don't know because but I don't consider them exceptional. In fact the other songs are excellents but not exceptionals!!! Certainly "Dolce Sorella" or "E Svegliarsi Un Giorno" aren't normal songs... Certainly "Icaro", "Natività" or "Cammellandia" are masterpieces... But "Un Cane" surclasses all this quite of God!!!

If you love the RPI or the Symphonic or, still, the Symphonic side of the Heavy Prog... Not to possess Paolo Rustichelli & Carlo Bordini's "Opera Prima" It is a deadly sin!!!

TRIADE

My review is produced using this release: VM 200/ BTF VMCD 105

My Rating: 8,5/10 PA Rating: 5/5

Very obscure band from Florence with very obscure story. Only in recent time, thanks to Enrico Rosa of Campo Di Marte, the story of Triade came to surface. This "1998: La Storia Di Sabazio" is a very good album in the vein of ELP, The Nice, Procol Harum, VDGG and Renaissance but with more pastoral attitude. At the same time, if the melody are very present and the songs are very catchy but not mellow, the use of organ and melltron (but it would be able also to be a synth), of the acoustic guitar and of a song songwriter attitude lyrics is the distinctive element that with the more pastoral attitude give back sole this group. In this sense the last song "1998 (Millenovecentonovantotto)" is very hard version of the music of Dik Dik's "Suite Per Una Donna Assolutamente Relativa". But "Caro Fratello" is a personal Symphonic Prog POP with very heavy atmosphere and arrengements. But this album is also the more impersonal mini suite "Sabazio" where the Prog is that of the inspirng group. But to the end the final result is another very good album, an honest masterpiece.

If only the Triade had continued... Perhaps the story of the music in Italy is able to be different.

JACULA

My review is produced using this review: Black Widow BWR 051CD

My Rating: 9/10 PA Rating: 5/5

In 1969 Mr Antonio Bertoccetti (Antonius Rex) decides to tranfert itself in London where the musical ideas were feer and decides finally of to record this masterpiece of the Black Prog. The album was printed in 300 copies+ 10 promo and distributed to nun sects! Substantially it is an album for church organ and electric guitar with recited vocal parts. The first listening I carried out it in a car and I should say that a headache got me... The second I carried out to the darkness, headphone and volume to the stars! That fear, that suggestions... all the songs put fear but "Magister Dixit", "Triumphatus Sad", "Intiatjo" and "In Cauda Semper" have an evocative power than hasn't equal. Hypnotic, darknesses, not songs... Go listened to night, to the light of the full Moon, in a castle (or church or abbey) in ruin. After not say me that the mental hospital is yours house!

You go in www.italianprog.com and sought the page of Jacula and read the interview. You will understand because "In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum" is a sincere album, kind and gotic but ever above the lines. To have even if hated the treated subject.

FIABA

My review is produced using this release: Lizard, distributed by Pick Up Records (Bassano Del Grappa, Vicenza Italy) 5490042

My Rating: 9/10 PA Rating: 5/5

I don't know because but the Folk Metal isn't easy genre to make to understand the people. Besides these Fiaba (from Syracuse, Sicily) propose a version totally Prog of this genre. The most big difficulty is represented from the vocal style and from the same lyrics, difficult to include for who is not Italian.In fact Giuseppe Brancato blends Renato Zero, Tito Schipa Jr., Ronnie James Dio, Robert Plant and Michael Kiske creating a style very recited,powerful and, in the same time, very cheerful. Difficult for who it isn't Italian or Classic Metaller understand this proposal that, I repeat, is Folk Metal a lot of Prog. Besides, being you are Sicilan propose a small expedient to be original. That is to say they introduce in their music high elements of true Sicilian theatre, that of "Pupi Siciliani". To advise a song with respect to another one is much difficult. It isn't easy. I would experience to advise "La Profezia", Folk Prog Metal with text to the Black sabbath, Medieval atmosphere and endured and dramatic interpretation. Attractive also "Turpino, Il Mostro", "Il Cappello A Tre Punte", "Hanno Ammazzato Il Drago", the dramatic (exciting, warm,honest, sarcastic,...) "I Cento Stivali",it dramatically cheerful "La Rana Affogata (Morte Di Ranerò)" and the dramatic but comical reading of the modern society "Il Passo Della Gallina".

If you are Italian and loved the Italian Prog the Fiaba cannot be lacking in your discography. If fond Halloween, King Diamond and death SS not to possess the Fiaba is punishable offense with the trouble of death. Certainly the Fiaba is a group that unites the classic Italian Prog and them the tendences in Classic Metal field. One of the little Folk Metal groups that I advise to all... But provided that it understand the Italian language and the Sicilian mentality.

DGM

My review is produced using this release: Elevate Records (is a division of 99TH Floor) ER03008

My Rating: 9/10 PA Rating: 5/5

I love this album because is my first contact with the work of Luciano Regoli, famous Italian singer (and painters) that in the 70's has working, between the other, with Raccomandata Ricevuta di Ritorno and Samadhi. Ok, this is a Prog Metal album but the Luciano Regoli's presence is a good point of departure to appreciate "Wings Of Time". But another good point of departure is the guitar work of Diego Realy that is a little clone of Malmsteen that is it is of Blackmore. The guitar of Reali and the keyboards of Maurizio Pariotti create a sound carpet a lot of soft but very powerful and the drum work of Fabio Costantino, precise and very power, does the remainder. "Wings Of Time" isn't a cold album, how a lot of Prog Metal albums, but it is an album thought to last in the time. Because songs like "Guiding Light", "I'll Dream Of You", "Deep Inside", "The Other Side", "A Drop Of Shadow" or "Nightmare" are daughters of the best Italian Prog.

For me with the DGM the Italian Prog is definitively reborn. And it doesn't interest me that the DGM produce Prog Metal. Because in this case is 100% Italian Prog.

My review is produced using this release: Akarma AK 1011

My Rating: 8/10 PA Rating: 4/5

Strange... This is a 100% RPI album (in the vein of Quella Vecchia Locanda, Balletto Di Bronzo, Alphataurus, Osanna, Biglietto Per L'Inferno or Museo Rosenbach) but with flute and sax a la Jethro Tull!!! In truth more of the moments of the songs of the original (and extreme rare) Virgin Records version of 1972 are Romantic and Symphonic (in the Italian version) and the use of organ and moog amplify everything. The songs are technique but not complex. Even if the suite "All'Uomo Che Raccoglie I Cartoni" is complex (because with more time and signature changes) technically isn't complex. Good the Medieval insertion and, obviously, the Jazz part with organ and flute a la Tull (tipically of the Italian Prog) that it remembers, however, too much the Osanna. Interesting the opener "Venite Giù Al Fiume" typical example of the Symphonic Rock side of the RPI. "Evviva La Contea Di Lane" written by Richard Benson (English DJ/ VJ/ guitarist with Italian Television Broadcasting contract) presents also a good guitar that it goes sought between the other instruments. Another words for the Bonus Tracks. Also like in the case of I Delirium the song for the singles are another musical style. In fact "Rosa" is a good example of a ballad of the 70's Italian New Romantic POP But really sweet, melancholy and dramatic with a really good lyrics and piano (but with a very useless Jazz part with a extreme good guitar solo). "Il Guardiano Della Valle" is a song sonwriter song in the vein of De Gregori (excuse me but is the only example that comes in my mind) because cheerful and medieval with course almost country (and with violin)!!!

Another consistent album from Italy and RPI (and from 1972). Another recommended album.