All Prog From Italy Appreciation Thread

My review is produced using this release: VM2000/ BTF VM CD 012 (2000)

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

Dalton: one of the most collectable band from 70's Italian Prog scene. And one of the best band of European Prig. In this "Riflessioni: Idea D'infinito" They produce one music to half road between Osanna, New Trolls and Jethro Tull with lyrics indeed dramatic and deep. "Stagione Che Muore" is a really good example. In this sense all the songs have really heavy arrengements and the insertion of flute is very interesting because increase the phatos. Also one ballad like "Cara Emili" isn't banal. However is very sweet in its dramatic being. This dramatical flavour is very positive because increases the fascination of the songs. The use of various keyboards (piano, organ, mellotron, moog, synth) is much heavy and it replaces indeed well the guitar. What it is a lot interesting is the use of the flute in support to keyboards that it creates one palette very coloured in one sea of black and white. And the guitar? The instrumental Rock "Riflessioni" present one boogie line of guitar extremely effective. It does not astonish that the Dalton has won the gold prize at Zurich's Pop festival in 1973 because to my modest warning the Dalton is suprior to New Trolls, PFM, Le orme. Or, at least, if they played it at par. But the bests songs which can be? Good question, because the answer isn't possible. This because every one has a its reason for being advised. But the ballad "Cara Emily" and "Dimensione Lavoro" (especially for power and very warmful organ/ guitar duel in one warm solo) have one superior march. But the duel with the others is impossible, because all are equivalent.

Not only one of the much collectable album of the 70's Italiam Prog. Is also one of the 5 album of the 70's Italian scene. Extremeli recommended.

Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 09:47 EST | Permanent link

My review is produced using this release: Giallo Records SAF 032 (1998)

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

"Argitari" for much person isn't a Prog album. For me is the Perfect album of the European Prog!!! In fact "Argitari" is much Folk, much dramatic but not dark and much coloured. Alex Chiesa it participates only like host and the use of much acoustic guitar and piano transform the music of "Argitari" in one sort of North Italian Folk. And this fact amplifiers the dramatic side of Dalton's music (notice the dramatic power flavour of "Ho Ritrovato La Mia Donna", "Visione Di Una Notte D'estate", "Odiarti No", "La Forza Di Dio", "Il Vuoto" and the bonus track "La Donna E Il Bambino" [single version with different lyrics and mix of "Visione..." that for me is much better than "Visione..."]). Strange the Italia version of "Blowin In The Wind" by Bob Dylan with lyrics by Mogol ("La Risposta", that becomes one typical Dalton's song) that isn't bad but ruin the magic og this album. But in general is strange to notice like these sweet song (because these are) are, in definitive, a dramatical but coloured flavour. What other to say? Uhm... Uhm... One masterpiece like this haven't need of other words. It only goes listened and understood. Because the emotion of "Visione Di Una Notte D'estate" (and his single version "La Donna Del Bambino") with this description of one infanticide perpetrated by one mad mother is intact also after 1000000 of listen!!!

Perfect album. Perfect emotion. This is the Art. This is the real Life Painting. This is the Perfect side of Romantic Dark Classic Music. This the new version of Richard Wagner concept. And... I love this absolute recommended album!!!

Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 10:11 EST | Permanent link

My review is produced using this release: Mellow Records MMP 120 (1992)

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

Attention: this is a clear ISP/ RPI related supergroup. For me the only place for this band is between the ISP/ RPI bands/ artists. This not only for the musician involved (Degani, Todaro, Piazza, Santandrea and Civitenga with the songs written by Tofani) but also because this is a real Prog version of the Led Zeppelin. In this sense the arrengements help more my convinction. In fact the arrengements is more present in the Crystals music that in the music of Led Zeppelin. Where the Zep is more Blues/ Folk the Crystals is more Folk/ Blues. And this is a very big difference. It is true that Carlo Degani is a photocopy of Robert Plant, but when it have to be more personal this characteristic it isn't present. But the Cramps records where is it in 1974 for Crystals? Attractive question, because only in 1992 Mauro Moroni and Ciro Perrino recovered this masterpiece. All the songs deserves a long and attentive listen but i think that "Wrong Out", "Time Out", "Feelings", If She's Mine", "Sad Story", "Policeman (very Zep Folk Style with personal electric insertions) and "Woman Under Water" are the best songs. Practically I exclude only "Persian Carpet" because he is anonymous (but in this quite of God!!!). Attrntion, I repeat, this isn't ISP/ RPI band but a very interesting related ISP/ RPI supergroup. But very Prog and convincing.

I (and not only I) don't kinow becase the Cramps Records not published this album in 1974. But likely that exist the Mellow Records that in 1992 published this little masterpiece. Because the story so have the just weight and recognition.

Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 10:44 EST | Permanent link

My review is produced using this release: DV MORE RECORD MC DV 5910 (MC)

My Rating: 9/10 PA Rating: 4/10

Ok, isn't Prog but very revelant Symphonic POP with one of the best Italian drummer (Nunzio "Cucciolo" Favia) and one of the most quoted Italian Keyboarder (Roberto "Hunka Munka" Carlotto). This is new recoding og Dik Dik classics with the addition of relevant Mogol Battisti song and two original songs. The Power of "Cucciolo" is absolutely the atomic bomb of this band, the propellent of this music. In this sense his power is wasted, but very useful. Songs like "Il Primo Giorno di Primavera", "Sognando La California", "Senza Luce", "Io Mi Fermo Qui", "L'Isola Di Wight", "Volando", "Viaggio Di Un Poeta" or "Vendo Casa" become a new song in this version. And one songs like the pure Rock "Guardo Te E Vedo Mio Figlio" seems a difficult song because the power increase the fashion of this song icreasing the perception of the difficulty. But the best song is the very POP written by Favia, Carlotto and Giustacchini that is titled "Altre Mani" because very involving. "Altre Mani" is the typical radiophonic POP AOR but the presence of two monsters like Favia and Carlotto (that plays also the synth keyboard guitar) transform a normal song in a very powerful song. In general this album is like a one beautiful Venetian Seen painting drawn from a painter of the 1600/ 1700. And in general the power is also the magic of an album that it will be not Prog but that runs on a parallel binary.

Power and Symphonic magic. This is the "Carlotto & Cucciolo Già Dik Dik". And for me is also one of the most revelant album of the 90's.

Posted Friday, March 30, 2007, 10:26 EST | Permanent link

My review is produced using this release: SMI 609 DDD (2005)

My Rating: 8/10 PA Rating 4/10

Excellent bidget compilation. If you think that I Dik Dik is a simple Beat band... you are indeed outside road. In fact I Dik Dik is a good Proto Prog band. Except "Il Primo Giorno Di Primavera" and "Senza Luce" in this compilation are contained only songs with Nunzio "Cucciolo" Favia and Roberto "Hunka Munka" Carlotto. If it it true that the definition Proto Prog in an optimistic definition I don't know that definition to use forto describe this music. Beat is limited and Prog (True Prog...!) is improper. To speak about simple POP... It means not to know the music. I love Dik Dik but is not this the motive for whose advice this compilation. I love the drum work of "Cucciolo" but is not this the motive for whose advice this compilation. Is a budget compilation... The truth is that this is music a lot interesting. But where is it the Prog? Sincerely... Hidden little everywhere. In the arrengements, above all. But in "Cavalli Alati" written by Paradiso/ Carlotto the Prog is in the first line. In fact this is one of the best Symphonic song of the Symphonic Prog world. "Cavalli Alati" is romantic, moving, powerful, grandiloquent. In one sense is the self indulgent song for the capacity of "Pepe" Salvaderi, Pietruccio Montalbetti and "Lallo" Sbrizolo. But for Carlotto and Nunzio "Cucciolo" Favia this is a very simple song. And the rest of the songs? Simple POP/ Proto Prog only that in this case isn't simple POP/ Proto Prog songs because the Dik Dik transform this genre in one risen of Symphonic POP/ Proto Prog very being involved and of great thickness.

I listen for the first time this compilation during the trip to Padua in March, 29th 2007. And immediately the surprise has been indeed positive. The Dik Dik is one of my teen myths. But with this compilation I have changed my judgment on they. And they have forced to me to become nearly they fan!!!

Posted Saturday, March 31, 2007, 04:57 EST | Permanent link

My review is produced using this release: Mellow records MMP 320

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

Fabio Zuffanti is one of the more appreciated New Italian Prog musiciansfrom the Old Italian Prog Musicians (maybe the more appreciated). And, also for me, one of more sincere musicians of the Prog world. These Hostsonaten confirm how much said. Modern and classics to the same time, the Hostsonaten have a very modern sound but are really classics. In fact Zuffanti decides to produce a melodic music and daughter of 70' s Italian Prog but with modern approach. Difficult to catalogue the Hostsonaten and Zuffanti in general. But I believe that it is just to consider the RPI, proper for how much affirmed. Sincerely I admit that the almost 42 minutes of "Hostsonaten" don't always run how would have to. To my warning because Zuffanti seeks too the atmospheres, Wanting to be melodic and little grandiloquent. More use of synths and minimoog would have given back everything more powerfull. But also so I have not nothing to complain myself because is however big music. And believe me... To listen to music so... It changes the life! Too melodic "Remember You". But it is another masterpiece. I don't believe that with a different approach it would have had the same sense. The final "The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner) with the Samuel Tylor Coleridge's lyrics is too romantic POP. But not easy. And, also in this case, there is a search for the emotional effect that is enormous.

Believe me, Fabio Zuffanti isn't a genius. Nevertheless it is very capable to recreate the 70's with 90's sounds. In this is a genius. And in this case it astonished still.

Posted Thursday, April 26, 2007, 05:02 EST | Permanent link