Rock Progressivo Italiano appreciation th - Progressive Rock Music Forum

progismylife wrote:

I have a question. I have heard and like Il Balletto Di Bronzo - Ys and PFM - Per Un Amico.

My question is: What RPI bands/albums should I get next?

Aha, I asked that question once, I got loads and loads of recommendations.

Better give you a few.

Banco - Darwin!

Semiramis - Dedicato a Frazz

La Maschera di Cera - Luxade

Quella Vecchia locanda - the first one.

Le Orme - Felona e Sorona.

Added them to my list. Approve

Which now contains about 56 different artists with about 2 to 3 albums per artist Wacko

The contemporary

italian prog scene special (part 1)

Fabio Zuffanti the mastermind...

2005 4.00

(9 ratings) Aries Studio Album

ARIES — Aries

Review by Andrea Cortese (Andrea Cortese)
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Italian Prog Specialist

4%20stars This Fabio Zuffanti guy is the real italian “origin of storms”. Isn't he?

With his many projects he, virtually, can be considered as the prog mastermind of nowadays: La Maschera di Cera, Hostsonaten, Finisterre, La Zona, Buc-Ur, Aries...his visiting cards!

Of all his works, Aries eponimous debut is one of the most romantic, mellow, soft and delicate symphonic prog efforts. Still exciting for the master use of keyboards and appreciable synth' solos, even if not at the very same level of the Hostsonaten project, in my humble opinion. A similar intimate record but less varied and acoustic than that. That's why, I presume, Aries' “lack of variety” risk to change into, sometimes, “good monotony”.

On about the music' structure: a whole album dedicated to an interesting mix between classical ethereal and atmospheric symphonic prog within more commercial parts as, mainly, in the feminine sad (and beautiful) vocal parts.

Two long compositions as the self-explanatory “The Eye of the Storms” (12,53 mns) and the small epic “When Night Is Almost Done” (16,53 mns). Great musical journeys enriched by wise and not too loud use of (light) electric guitar. Pure symphonic pleasure.

Incredible but true: still another little gem from the “so-much-prolific” italian contemporary prog scene.

Highly recommended! 3.75 stars.

Posted Monday, February 12, 2007, 16:51 EST | Permanent link

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1999

3.67

Excellent%20addition%20to%20any%20prog%20music%20collection

(14 ratings)

In Ogni Luogo

Studio Album

FINISTERRE — In Ogni Luogo

Review by Andrea Cortese (Andrea Cortese)
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Italian Prog Specialist

3%20stars In Ogni Luogo (In Everywhere) is dedicated to the spirit of Jeff Buckley.

I have to say that the album is good (sometimes very good) but it did not impress me as I presumed. Dont' get me wrong: not a disappointment, but the general progressiveness of the opus appears, clearly, in a lower profile.

Some pleasant melodic symphonic tracks are still present, though, and I enjoyed them very much! As for the warm and melancholic “Snàporaz” (6,41 mns) that deserves a special mention due to the addition of spoken words from the famous italian movie by Federico Fellini “La Dolce Vita” (“...Marcello, come here...” et cetera). A dreamy and ethereal electric guitar builds up a magical atmosphere that mixes perfectly with the keyboards' section. The instrumental “Ninive” (the ancient capital of the Assirian empire) is also very good but, unfortunately, too short (just below the four minutes). An excellent track for sure and the sax is the icing on the cake.

“In Ogni Luogo” features vocals from Francesca Lago, a melodic pop tune as many in the contemporary italian musical scene only enriched by sparse strings' addition in the final part. Similar weak sound in “Continuità dilara nel Tempo” and in the album's closer “Wittgenstein Mon Amour”.

“Coro Elettrico” is much more interesting. Strings duet with electric guitar and it's all very exciting. A more harder intrumental song that fades into a more serious and melodic mood. “Le Città Indicibili” opens with a soft duo between acoustic guitar and flute and then, keyboards and violin.

“Gli Amici Sinestetici” is probably the most favourite of mine. The general mood is melancholic as the whole album is. A sad (and hard) electric guitar opens and, soon, duets with mellow piano's touches. Then, again, guitar takes the scene and reminds me of Il Castello di Atlante. Another highlight is “Peter's House”, a very good track with the catching sound of electric guitar fighting with sax incursions.

All in all, a very good album, as I said before. Not brilliant as it could be. Lots of ideas not completely well matured. Zuffanti seems, sometimes, to be too much prolific!!

A pleasant listening, though.

3.50

Posted Thursday, December 28, 2006, 16:00 EST | Permanent link

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2002

4.17

(6 ratings)

Springsong

Studio Album

HOSTSONATEN — Springsong

Review by Andrea Cortese (Andrea Cortese)
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Italian Prog Specialist

4%20stars Of the many bands and projects where mr. Zuffanti is involved (La Maschera di Cera, Finisterre, Lazona, Merlin Opera Rock ...), Hostsonaten is the most warm, mellow, gentle and melodic one with hints of folk and celtic influence plus sparse touches of jazz. That “celtic-symphonic prog” (I don't know how to call it, otherwise) is what came out better from this recent work.

Springsong is the last studio album released by the band and is based upon a compelling symphonic structure (moog, pianos and mellotron, synth) driven by acoustic instruments as the 12 strings guitar, violin, saxophone, flute, delicate whistles and even bagpipes! Nine instrumental composition, with some sparkling variations and a unique recitative part in “She Sat Writing Letters on the Riverbank”. The general mood of the album is different from the usual italian contemporary prog scene. There is not the purpose to surprise the listener with pompous arrangements or with fast and unespected changes of tempo. The music'structure is somehow similar to the classic band Celeste and its warm and soft wonderful compositions.

The message is clear: to relax the tired symphomaniac and give him the opportunity to reflect on all of his sins, to look to the world through ancient and never-changing natural forces. It would be possible then, for the most lucky of us, to come closer to the mythic embrionic state. This is the difference from Celeste. The symphonic structure is the main vehicle to reach all this with the alliance of the natural themes upon which the concept is based on.

The final track “Toward the Sea” is the longer composition (about 13 minutes), divided in three parts (Blackmountains, 3rd Reprise and Springland). The album's manifesto, for sure. Excellent equilibrium from all the musicians. Stunning!

A wonderful musical experience, not everyone's cup of tea, but possibly one of the most important record of the last years. It would have been an appropriate addition to the Lord of the Rings' soundtrack... wonderful!

Posted Tuesday, December 05, 2006, 16:29 EST | Permanent link

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2003

4.09

(14 ratings)

Il Grande Labirinto

Studio Album

LA MASCHERA DI CERA — Il Grande Labirinto

Review by Andrea Cortese (Andrea Cortese)
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Italian Prog Specialist

4%20stars Winter is now, a long, never-ending winter. The snow covers the roads, you cannot escape, you cannot hear nothing. The journey is inside your soul. There, all things are upside-down. You are your own labyrinth.

This La Maschera di Cera's album is not strictly a concept album, but very near to that, though. Only four tracks, plus, as a bonus track, “La Consunzione” which is an extract from the opener “Il Viaggio nell'Oceano Capovolto pt. 1” (Voyager to the Inverted Ocean). Total running time 1 hour and 5 mns.

Dark and deep atmospheres. The results of all those things: piano, fender rhodes electric piano, hammond organ, mellotron 400, arp odissey, vc3, oberheim ob12, minimoog, roland analogic, harpsichord, clavinet, effects.

Great role for the bass guitar of Fabio Zuffanti. Two free riders: a rough electric guitar from the distance and a nervous flute, an evil flute. What a surprise, the evil flute! The flute goes around this spacey album as if it goes without any direction. Lost in a lost world (thanks to the magnificient Moodies for using their own words).

Dreamy feel sometimes, dramatic for the most part. Even absurd. Melodic sung tunes alternates with longer instrumental efforts. Sometime repetitive as those beautiful five minutes of the final part of “Il Viaggio nell'Oceano Capovolto pt. 2”.

Not a masterpiece for sure, but a record that deserves much more attention by any good prog lover! Other reviewers have pointed out the references of this work to some typical italian sound from the seventies (such as PFM, for example). I don't know what they like to listen to. I do not find so "too much" references from the italian roots. It wouldn't be a mortal sin, by the way, neither a reason to down-grade the album.

Ah, almost forgotten the cover! What a beatiful and delicate cover!

Posted Tuesday, April 18, 2006, 16:48 EST | Permanent link

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2006

4.18

(16 ratings)

LuxAde

Studio Album

LA MASCHERA DI CERA — LuxAde

Review by Andrea Cortese (Andrea Cortese)
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Italian Prog Specialist

5%20stars “...I don't hear your voice anymore, the abyss is here (...) I won't search for my reality because you're disappearing behind me / I won't search for the truth if you're sinking without me...”

...how do we feel when we loose our beloved friends, lovers, relatives?

This is the main question, the central concept upon which all the album is based. A strong argument, the most anguishing situation for any human being in his life. And it's very interesting that La Maschera di Cera have elaborated their musical ideas aroundthe figure of the ancient greek myth of Orpheus. Orpheus start a journey from the earth's light (Lux in latin language) to the darkness of the afterlife's underworld (Hades – Ade), the reign of the deads. His beloved wife Eurydice sadly died and he never managed to accept it. Then he decided to start the long and dangerous journey throughout the world of Hades. But when he arrived and founded her, he realized he could not bring back on earth because she was only the image of herself, her body wasn't anymore. What a sad story, what a common situation for all of us! This is what the world is made of: pain.

By the way, the conceptual idea of the album rapresents the opposition of two elements: Life/Death, Dark/Light, Faith/Anguish ... there we can find a sort of reference from that fabulous Le Orme's record of the 1973: Felona e Sorona, a concept album about two opposite planets. And the music itself of Lux Ade search for a modern way to interpret (or to re-interpret) the italian prog traditions. So we can find also references to some movements from Rustichelli & Bordini's Opera Prima (1973). A great role and position for the varied keyboards instruments. Agostino Macor delights us with his hammondorgan, crumar organ, mellotron, synthesizers, classic pianos, electric harpsichord, clavinet, rmi, spinet, celesta and theremin corvaglizer (I wonder what is it...!).

The flute, the flute is not the same of that of the previous album “Il Grande Labirinto” (2003). It has now more prominence and is sometimes similar to some mellow interludes tipical of the later records of Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson. So is in particular the last song of Lux Ade titled “Schema (V.S.D.)”. I don't know what the acronym is on about. An instrumental delicate dream, after a so much powerful record!

What about Fabio Zuffanti his perfomance on bass guitar? Excellent, as always. Specral sometimes. Impressive “conubium” with all that keyboards' richness! His lyrics on “Doppia Immagine”, “Orpheus” and “Enciclica 1168” are all appreciable and worthy of special mention. What a pity for all the non italian language people!

Such a wonderful and great record had to have also a great artistic producer behind...what a surprise: Franz di Cioccio (from Premiata Forneria Marconi)!

“Porta del Cielo” (Sky's Door) is the instrumental short opener (1,10 mns). A melodic gentle-piano based track that, suddenly, introduces the listener to the real tune “Doppia Immagine” (7,49 mns). This one is a wonderful gem, with an incredibly good saxophone interlude. Perhaps the most pregnant part of the track, indeed!

“Un Senso all'Impossibile” (A Meaning for the Impossible) starts with a wonderful and relaxing acoustic 12 strings guitar, provided by Alessandro Corvaglia, the one who provided also the lyrics. All the 10,18 mns of the song are worth of inclusion in most excellent repertoire of modern symphonic prog! What a dreamy synthesizer, what a wonderful atmosphere! The rithm is slow in the first part, then flute, keyboards, bass and drums start to work as their players are able to do.

“Orpheus” (4,45 mns) is a varied and impressive composition. All the richness of the album is here well rapresented! The following track “Nuova Luce” (New Light) is the most favourite of mine of the seven of Lux Ade. Outstanding 10,18 mns of pure prog pleasure! The melodic and pompous symphonic part makes me sing at each time! And that's the thing really impressive!!

With the sixth song starts the Program 2, id est the second part of the whole opus! The long suite (24,27 mns) is titled “Enciclica 1168”. Enciclica is what the roman Pope sometimes write on about christian faith and other specific religious arguments. The suite is composed of 9 so called “scenes” titled, respectevely: I scene (Preludio); II scene (Caduta/Visione – Fall/Vision); III (Delitto – Crime); IV (Coscienza – Consciousness); V (Canto Pagano/Metamorfosi – Pagan Chant/Metamorphosis); VI (Dopo la Pioggia – After the Rain); VII (Sterminio – Extermination); VIII (Lumen in Coelo – latin language for Light in the Sky); IX (Postludio/ Così in Alto E' Come in Basso – The So High Is the Same of the Low).

Enciclica has some darker passages. Even the lyrics are about human fear of God. Impressive track!

What could I say more? Let's go out and buy immidiately this wonderful gem!

P.S. ...and for another time Erik was right...

Posted Thursday, April 27, 2006, 16:44 EST | Permanent link

Thanks Guillermo!

I still haven't ha dthe opportunity to listen to La Zona. Still missing also the newest project Buc-Ur and the Merlin Opera Rock...

So I could probably use reviews from other fellow reviewers...I presume it's legal 'cause they'll be taken from this site...hmm, BTW I will ask them for their kind permission of (Erik Neuteboom, for instance)!!!

An album I can't get enough of is Ubi Maior's Nostos. A great record that is still unfortunately underlooked....(only 6 ratings........).

Great list, my friend!!!

Andrea Cortese wrote:

An album I can't get enough of is Ubi Maior's Nostos. A great record that is still unfortunately underlooked....(only 6 ratings........).

that it is.. sadly...

The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip

avestin wrote:

Andrea Cortese wrote:

An album I can't get enough of is Ubi Maior's Nostos. A great record that is still unfortunately underlooked....(only 6 ratings........).

You can consider it 7, with the 7th review being invisible and mine. Love that album as well.

I've lost count of my invisible reviews Wink

The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip

memowakeman wrote:

Yep, i like a lot Nostos, it´s own music is magnific and besides that there´s a nice Balletto di Brozno cover "La Tua Casa Comoda", so anyone should listen to it, it is another Italian gem.

Yeah, "La Tua Casa Comoda" rules the universe.

micky

Follow me on twitter @memowakeman

Don't worry, guys, I'll take good care of him... We might even pop into the forum from time to time, just to remind you we're still around Wink

. Hopefully we'll be able to get lots of great RPI albums, and perhaps get to see Le Orme at the end of the month.

Ah, before I forget, a few minutes ago, with Hugues's blessing, I moved Delirium to ISP.... They were my first real prog band, and the first prog album I ever owned, so I have a sentimental attachment to them.