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Todd View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Todd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2010 at 13:07
Originally posted by Nightfly Nightfly wrote:

Originally posted by Finnforest Finnforest wrote:

And now they are here!
 
Clap When i review it I think I'll just write "see Jim's review". Wink nice work on the adition too.
 
I find myself using the "ditto" option many many times!  Great work, interesting band.  Not one I jump too a lot, but when I'm in the mood it's just right.
"I have seen the broken sky turn blue."



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Todd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2010 at 13:08
Originally posted by Finnforest Finnforest wrote:

Todd has that box, he might know something about it.  Otherwise Celeste has a myspace page manned by Ciro, who would be happy to answer questions I'm sure.   Smile
 
Got it
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nightfly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 07 2010 at 17:43
Vault Pick: Another one on the heavier side of Italian prog.....Thumbs Up
 
 La Leggenda Della Grande Porta by VIII STRADA album cover Studio Album, 2008
3.73 | 6 ratings

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La Leggenda Della Grande Porta
VIII Strada Progressive Metal

Review by Andis

4 stars This came as a big surprise for me, an unknown band (for me) that really got my interest. I read about them as a progressive metal band with lots of heavy guitar and piano and I found some mp3-clips that sounded good so I decided to try them out, and bought their CD. And what a surprise it was.

First, in my book, this is not progressive metal. I'd say these are in the progressive symphonic vein with lots of heavy guitars but also lots of keyboards and mellow parts. The band are heavy sometimes but so are also a lot of other bands labeled progressive rock. The album reminds me about fellow italian proggers Malibran and Calliope, although I consider this album superior to these mentioned bands.

The vocals are fantastic and the singer sings in italian (thanks, I prefer bands to sing in their native language) and the album is full of symphonic melodies with tight arrangements throughout the album, the longer the song, the better it is.

Lots of great vocals, melodies and all types of interesting twists and turns wich makes this album on my top list of 2008, I bought this at the same time as Phideaux - Number seven and Beardfish's - Distined solitaire and this albums is easily as good as those albums.

If you're in to italian progressive rock and like fellow italians like Il Bacio Della Medusa, Pandora and the two I mentioned earlier, this is a must buy!

4 stars, very, very close to 5. Say 4.5!!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nightfly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 09 2010 at 17:44
Who's looking forward to the 3 Cd remaster of PFM's Cook? Me for one!
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote seventhsojourn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 10 2010 at 04:05
Italy needs votes in the World Cup semi-final vs Canada.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Finnforest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 10 2010 at 06:16
Originally posted by Nightfly Nightfly wrote:

Who's looking forward to the 3 Cd remaster of PFM's Cook? Me for one!
 


That does look pretty tasty Paul!Big smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nightfly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 10 2010 at 11:45
This albums incredible! Clap
 
 Neogothic Progressive Toccatas by THREE MONKS album cover Studio Album, 2010
4.00 | 2 ratings

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Neogothic Progressive Toccatas
Three Monks Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by toroddfuglesteg
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4 stars Who says innovation is dead ?

Three Monks did not listen to this claim and neither did All Over Everywhere, another band who has released a highly innovative album this year.

This album, Three Monks debut album, could had been recorded and released just as Christopher Columbus set sail for India, ehh..... make that America, in 1492. The pipe organs is that old. But then again, I don't think anyone back then would had been able to come up with a drum kit and a bass guitar. The 1900'th century rhythm section is very much a part of this album. The pipe organs is not. This combination makes this a first within the recording industry, my research has revealed.

The music is, well, the name on the tin does not lie. The music is Neogothic Progressive Toccatas. No less, no more. There is no vocals. Just heavy gothic music performed by pipe organs, bass and drums. Forget about gothic rock and all those goths with black leather and black lipsticks. Three Monks is the only real goths in town.

The music is all and all out cathedral music, with some excellent support from the bass and the drums. Put yourself in a big cathedral when you listen to this album. Or even better, take your MP3 player or Iplayer and go to a cathedral and then play this album (remember headphones). Which is exactly what I will do this weekend, btw. That will be an interesting experience.......

The quality is excellent throughout. The drums and bass adds texture to the dominant pipe organs and everything swirls around each other in perfect harmony. The music is also very dynamic in most places. Which is surprising, the music being performed with pipe organs. There is no doubts that Three Monks has rewritten the ABC of pipe organ playing with this album. A couple of killer tracks would had given this album a classic status instead of a mere cult status. But this is still an album fans of.......... well, everyone who visits ProgArchives will probably find this album interesting. This album is one to savior in the coming decades.

4 stars

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andrea Cortese Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 10 2010 at 16:27
^^^
 
I don't have this one but from the reviews I read it sounds interestingThumbs Up... the "cathedral prog" thing is really catchy... isn't it?


Edited by Andrea Cortese - September 10 2010 at 16:31
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andrea Cortese Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 10 2010 at 16:30
Todd, what the hell happened today in California?
 
Heard of a methane pipeline explosion with dead people... I'm sorry for that.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nightfly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 10 2010 at 17:05
Originally posted by Andrea Cortese Andrea Cortese wrote:

^^^
 
I don't have this one but from the reviews I read it sounds interestingThumbs Up... the "cathedral prog" thing is really catchy... isn't it?
 
Andrea, if you enjoy the sound of a cathedral pipe organ you'll love it. Powerful stuff!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Finnforest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 10 2010 at 21:53
RPI Team Update!Big smile

Here's a list of some of the recent Italian additions since our last update.  To our great thread readers, be sure to check them out when you have time.  Thanks to those of all teams who helped get them added and to the bands for info provided.  

Roberto Colombo
Lagartija - awesome modern band
Mario Barbaja
Akron - dark gothic in the Jacula vein
Three Monks - pipe organ neo-gothic prog rock
Colster - modern instrumental psych, great!
Blue Phantom - classic psych
Claudio Rocchi - legend
Meditteranea - eclectic and jazzy
Phaedra - warm and refined
Gian Pieretti - acoustic soft prog
Natural Mystic - eclectic prog defined
Free Wave System - great jazz rock
Daal
Stefano Panunzi - lovely crossover prog
 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nightfly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2010 at 12:07
Sometimes it's worth reminding ourselves how good the classics are like here with this great review from Chris. Thumbs Up
 
 Maxophone by MAXOPHONE album cover Studio Album, 1975
4.31 | 74 ratings

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Maxophone
Maxophone Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by seventhsojourn
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5 stars Maxophone was one of the few Italian groups of the 1970s that managed to record an English version of their album, although the English-language recording wasn't a great success. This review is based on the original and more highly regarded Italian version. Half the members of this Milanese sextet were classically trained musicians and most, if not all, were multi- instrumentalists. As a result, there are some novel textures on the album thanks to the singular array of instruments that the band employs. Vibraphone features prominently and while that in itself isn't unusual for an RPI album, it is when used together with valve horn, clarinet and trumpet. Along with the more orthodox saxophone and flute, the wind instruments generally tend to be in the driving seat throughout the album.

With the exception of the two closing bonus songs, all the tracks feature fairly complex multi- part arrangements. There might not be any sprawling 20-minute epics (the longest track is under 9-minutes), but we do get a series of six concise mini-masterpieces. Lead singer Alberto Ravasini has been compared to Peter Gabriel... not something I'd noticed myself but I suppose there is a similarity. Musically the band plays a sophisticated mix of classical, jazz and progressive music, with a crisp and compact rhythm section that provides a firm rallying point for the front line instruments. Their main influences seem to be Gentle Giant, perhaps not as quirky but with similar medieval flourishes, and King Crimson, with the fast section of ''Antiche Conclusioni Nerge'' having something of the ''Great Deceiver'' about it.

This album should have broad appeal, not just to RPI enthusiasts but also to fans of the above mentioned prog heavyweights as well as Genesis and Van Der Graaf Generator. What it lacks in originality and RPI-ness, it more than makes up for in its dazzling brilliance.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote American Khatru Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2010 at 21:00
Originally posted by Nightfly Nightfly wrote:

This albums incredible! Clap
 
 Neogothic Progressive Toccatas by THREE MONKS album cover Studio Album, 2010
4.00 | 2 ratings

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Neogothic Progressive Toccatas
Three Monks Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by toroddfuglesteg
Collaborator Interview Editor

4 stars Who says innovation is dead ?

Three Monks did not listen to this claim and neither did All Over Everywhere, another band who has released a highly innovative album this year.

This album, Three Monks debut album, could had been recorded and released just as Christopher Columbus set sail for India, ehh..... make that America, in 1492. The pipe organs is that old. But then again, I don't think anyone back then would had been able to come up with a drum kit and a bass guitar. The 1900'th century rhythm section is very much a part of this album. The pipe organs is not. This combination makes this a first within the recording industry, my research has revealed.

The music is, well, the name on the tin does not lie. The music is Neogothic Progressive Toccatas. No less, no more. There is no vocals. Just heavy gothic music performed by pipe organs, bass and drums. Forget about gothic rock and all those goths with black leather and black lipsticks. Three Monks is the only real goths in town.

The music is all and all out cathedral music, with some excellent support from the bass and the drums. Put yourself in a big cathedral when you listen to this album. Or even better, take your MP3 player or Iplayer and go to a cathedral and then play this album (remember headphones). Which is exactly what I will do this weekend, btw. That will be an interesting experience.......

The quality is excellent throughout. The drums and bass adds texture to the dominant pipe organs and everything swirls around each other in perfect harmony. The music is also very dynamic in most places. Which is surprising, the music being performed with pipe organs. There is no doubts that Three Monks has rewritten the ABC of pipe organ playing with this album. A couple of killer tracks would had given this album a classic status instead of a mere cult status. But this is still an album fans of.......... well, everyone who visits ProgArchives will probably find this album interesting. This album is one to savior in the coming decades.

4 stars

I've been eyeballing this one too (oh why won't thousands of dollars drop out of the sky? I swear I'll spend it on prog!) and haven't heard any of it yet.  The descriptions I'm seeing are compelling.  

Being a classical music fan, I wonder if that word is being used is true.  Are these really "Tocattas"?  Are they generally fast or at least involving a lot of finger-flight on the keys of the organ (or the other instruments)?  Are there imitative passages, or even fugues?  I could of course easily like this album even if the term Toccata was not being used "properly", but I have to say I'd REALLY be interested if it was.

Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nightfly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2010 at 08:30
I think it's a fair description AK but why not have a listen yourself here...........
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote American Khatru Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2010 at 09:06
Originally posted by Nightfly Nightfly wrote:

I think it's a fair description AK but why not have a listen yourself here...........
 
Of course, I should have thought of checking myspaceEmbarrassed.  I am right now dropping the old needle on "Toccata Neogotica #1".  This one is going through most of the toccata paces it seems, though not strictly.  There's a sort of false-fugue in the center, before and after this section there's imitation running to the other instruments.  Now I have on "Toccata Neogotica #7".  This is rather good stuff!  

In terms of form the music takes some freedoms, but not many more than lots of composers took, even hundreds of years ago, with this form.  Of the Toccata, it could be argued I suppose that the it went on to form some of the basis for the later form of Fantasia; the Fantasia is what some of these tracks run to at one point or another.

Let me add one other thing.  It sounds like a 5-string bass on this album.  I do not like 5-string bass at all, mainly because it's used so awfully and predictably by bands who get into that.  This record though is fully justified in having that extra lower string on the bass.

Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Finnforest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2010 at 09:13
David, if you have technical questions about the music, by all means, drop the organist a line at their myspace messages address.  They're great guys who will be happy to answer these questions.  The organist is extremely well versed in classical music, having spent years in in-depth study on the music and composers.  I've chatted with them, and I think they would welcome your questions and interest!Smile 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nightfly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2010 at 12:26
Vault pick: More jazz rock than RPI but I know many Italian prog fans love this album, me included......
 
 Tilt - Immagini Per Un Orecchio by ARTI E MESTIERI album cover Studio Album, 1974
4.23 | 47 ratings

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Tilt - Immagini Per Un Orecchio
Arti e Mestieri Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by andrea
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5 stars Arti & Mestieri are one of the best known Italian prog bands and have been active since 1973. They come from Turin and were formed on the initiative of Furio Chirico (former drummer of The Trip) who met with keyboardist Beppe Crovella (former member of a band called The Mystics) and four musicians coming out from a jazz rock band called Il Sogno di Archimede, Gigi Venegoni (guitar), Giovanni Vigliar (violin, vocals), Marco Gallesi (bass) and Arturo Vitale (sax, vibraphone). In 1974 they released their debut album for the independent label Cramps, "Tilt ? Immagini per un orecchio" (Tilt ? Imagines for an ear), a brilliant mix of rock, jazz, classical, Mediterranean influences and melodic passages. The art cover by Gianni Sassi, featuring a flying funnel in a blue sky among white clouds, in some way describes the overall sound of this work where many influences floating in the air are caught and channelled through this conical utensil having a narrow tube at the apex to be blended and conveyed on the tracks of the album.

The title of instrumental opener "Gravità 9,81" (Gravity 9,81) is inspired by the law of gravity formula. Ignoring air resistance, an object falling freely near the Earth's surface increases its velocity with 9.81 m/s (32.2 ft/s or 22 mph) for each second of its descent. As gravitation causes dispersed matter to coalesce, on this track the creativity of the band perfectly blends the Mediterranean touches of colour evoked by the violin with a pulsing rhythm section and a jazzy sax solo. This piece is an authentic trademark of the band by now.

Next comes "Strips", where the dreamy and romantic mood of the music contrasts with the bitter disenchantment of lyrics condemning a reality of empty conventions, of absurdities filling your head, of languid songs and artists whispering useless words, of faded stories about planets, wizards and gods...

"Corrosione" (Corrosion) is a kind of short bridge leading to the beautiful instrumental "Positivo / Negativo" (Positive/Negative) where a first solar and dreamy part, featuring acoustic guitar and violin, gives way to a second part full of energy, featuring a great rhythm section and a good electric guitar work.

"In cammino" (On walk) is another excellent instrumental that opens with a melancholic sax introduction, then rhythm takes off and melancholy melts in joyful passages where the members of the band showcase their musicianship. On the original LP it was the last track of side A.

Next comes the short instrumental "Farenheit", where the rhythm goes slowly up like the temperature of a thermometer introducing "le plat de resistance" of the album, the long and complex suite "Articolazione" (Articulation), a piece about the necessity to live the present facing the reality. There's no time you can waste waiting dreaming for better days while the Death is leading into the grave all her dear lovers... "It's not because you think to have understood / That your future is going to change / In the mirror you must see / What is harder seeing...".

The experimental "Tilt", almost an example of concrete music, concludes an excellent album where music flows away without weak moments. A must for every Italianprog lover!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Todd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2010 at 15:11
Originally posted by Andrea Cortese Andrea Cortese wrote:

Todd, what the hell happened today in California?
 
Heard of a methane pipeline explosion with dead people... I'm sorry for that.
 
Yeah, a gas main exploded in San Bruno, near San Francisco, which killed 4 people and destroyed dozens of homes.  No one really knows why it exploded, other than age, but the sad thing is that three years ago the power company, PG&E, had already requested 5 million dollars set aside to fix that stretch of old bad pipe, but they never started fixing it.  It could have been avoided!  Very sad.
"I have seen the broken sky turn blue."



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TGM: Orb Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2010 at 19:33
Just listened to Ys again today and I'm now spotifying Il Balletto Di Bronzo's first album. It's actually pretty solid. Nothing much to do with prog rock, and the line-up is absolutely different but it's not a bad album.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nightfly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2010 at 03:24
^ No certainly not a bad album, but I found it very ordinary after the excellence of Ys.
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