All Prog From Italy Appreciation Thread

ERA DI ACQUARIO: "ANTOLOGIA" (studio album)
LP 1973 RCA Italiana (PSL 10565)
CD of this review: 2003 BMG Ricordi S.p.A. (74321982862)

Line Up:
Michele Seffer: bass, electric guitar, solo voice
Angelo Giordano: flutes, sax, clarino, voice
Pippo Cataldo: drums, tumbas and percussions, voice

Track list:
1. Campane Siciliane (3:37)
2. Padre Mio (2:51)
3. Idda (3:23)
4. Solitudine (2:46)
5. Vento D'Africa (2:25)
6. Monika Aus Wien (2:14)
7. L'Indifferenza (3:27)
8. Fuori al sole (2:04)
9. Geraldine (3:32)
10. Statale 113 (2:54)

PA rating: 5/5  My rating:9/10
Very soft album because based on acoustic guitar and flute. but with "Padre Mio" and "Geraldine" in New trolls more Rock style (but more mainstream also if "Geraldine" is a very plagiarism). "Campagne Siciliane" (perhaps the more famous song by Era Di acquario) is sweet ballad based on 12 string acoustic guitar and flute and in this sense is a Proto new Age song. in contrast "Padre Mio" is a strange New Trolls boogie song and another in contrast "Idda" is an acoustic version of New Trolls but sung in Scicly dialect with Falsetto chorus. Ah, the keyboards are substitutes for a bottleneck electric guitar. Solitudine is another piece in "Campagne Siciliane" style but more boogie style remaining at the same time a sweet Folk song (but the synths... who played the synths?). "Vento D'Africa" is in the same style. As you will have very understood "Antologia" is a sweet game for flute and 12 string acoustic guitar. But if it is true is another true that "Antologia" is an album that it goes listened having in front of the eyes the typical sicialian landscape with its desolation, with an only color that is a village nearly abandoned that with absolute indifference it  passes the days all equal with the bells that play, play and play (see "L'Indifferenza"). In this sense "Antologia" reserves much surprises and an album of absolute value is revealed. And the car runs fast in "Statale 113" (National road 113).

"Antologia" is very interesting semi masterpiece (but forgotten) of Symphonic Folk. More fresh that in 1973 is another album for all of the Progsters. we want to rediscover this absolute gem?

Thanks Planet_Gong.  You have had some preciser info on Guy Fawkes?

Lucio Battisti is more Prog to I Pooh!!!


Edited by Mandrakeroot - April 12 2007 at 08:20

as soon as i'll post news about FAWKES.

Edited by Planet_Gong - April 12 2007 at 13:43

...bands such as IM?

Nobody ever brings up this fine gem when discussing Italian prog.  It has been one of my favorites for years.

For KANE: Thanks for the report.   "Infinity" by Planetarium is another forgotten little gem that I haven't!!!

Edited by Mandrakeroot - April 13 2007 at 06:10

@Planet Gong, your avatar (QVL's Il tempo della gioia) is the cover of my favorite italian album .

Dirk wrote: @Planet Gong, your avatar (QVL's Il tempo della gioia) is the cover of my favorite italian album .

And one of the best Italian Prog bands of all time!!!

micky wrote: Mandrakeroot wrote: Uhm... Itlaly have a very very prolific scene. Luck that in 80' s it is stopped the proliferation of new bands/ artists because Already so it is impossible to follow all the scene!!!  Still how many Prog bands should be born in Italy?  I think I told you Mandy.. that book on RPI I have lists almost 300 groups and almost 100 solo artists....

Eh, eh... This is the problem for a profitable and good promotion of the Italian Prog!!!

Dirk wrote: @Planet Gong, your avatar (QVL's Il tempo della gioia) is the cover of my favorite italian album .