All Prog From Italy Appreciation Thread

My review is produced using this release: Lizard/ Pick Up 549 0022

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

Incredible album!!! This is another good Italian band in the vein of 70's Italian bands and Jethro Tull!!! The lack of the keyboards and the presence of the flute they send back just to the Tull, even if filters from one heavy dose of the I Delirium. This feeling becomes truth in "Scena Dopo Scena" and in "Verso La Foresta". You don't believe, however, that it is easy music. In fact to the first one I listen to I had not just understood them and they hadn't made one good impression me. But from the second listening... every time that I have them listens to... You has understood them a little more. The guitar is Jazz-Blues and the not Rock drums they find in a flueo to the tull, in a good voice and in a superior writing the just complement. And the result is an indeed personal sound.

If thoughts that the Italian groups are able to only copy... Listened to this Aria Palea and then you say me if I don't have reason to say that they are unique.

ARPIA

My review is produced using this release: Pick UP Records PKPROG1904

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

Historical band of the Roman underground the Arpia decide to build a concept on the story of the Italian Republic taking like chapters black mysteries of Italian history. So Bonetti, Brait and Orazi decide to build a non-politic reading of the make disputed but doing to tell from a witness of the other political bank. So Benito Mussolini and Clara Petacci hung and exhibited to Loreto square in Rome come mocked from a Communist ("Piazzale Loreto) and the massacle of Della Loggia Square in brescia comes told from a Fascist girl (because to the period the politics in Italy was this!!!). And, still, the well-known (in Italy) Moro Abduction ("16 Marzo 1978") comes seen with the eyes of an old Communist, the Massacre of Bologna (Central Station, August 2nd 1980, 10:25 A.M.) ("Bologna") comes seen with the eyes of a family of immigrants in Belgium (but of right hand...) and the victory of polytical coalition of Center- Right hand in March 28th 1994 ("Coprofagia") from a neo BR (that it is wanted to admit or no is a militia of Communists in Italy). So doing "Liberazione" became a raw reflection on the Italian society of the last half Century without to be political. Musically it is very raw, dusk, not easy but very immediate music com a lot of synth (I find it also catchy) with excellent lyrics and a smaller production that excites the meaning of the work.

Excellent music and excellent comcept. Even if it isn't conventional Prog because stinks of New wave but is 100% very Prog. Surely the concept is brave and not easy to understand if do not is itself Italian or it is not known the Italian story. However at least so it knows a story. That of nation that claims a power that in the centuries, even though divided in regional nations, the Bel Paese still today.

GIANNI D'ERRICO

My review is produced using this release: BMG (82876-54404-2)

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

Lately every artist/ band that I proposed and that then was included in PA I appraised it with 5 stars. Gianni D'Errico doesn't escape at this law because does it produce a really attractive "Concept album". Published posthumous in 1976 "Antico Teatro Da Camera" is a very good Song songwriter Symphonic Prog, one of the most difficult for themes treated. The beginning (and the end) of the album are occupied from "L'Etrusca", dark song with thunder, flashes, rain and harpsichord with very dark chorus. The second song "Antico Teatro Da Camera" ("Ancient Theater From Room") speaks of the homosexuality of an adolescent (in first person) that growing it understands that also the it be different it is source of enrichment. The music is a really good Rock with Synth guitar but distorted and synth with harpsichord and Beat chorus. The result is a symphonic drama really exciting. "Reincarnazione" ("Reincarnation") is a really sweet Rock with dramatic lyrics. Here they are the connections between the persons to come analyzed. In this case is the request of the conversation that it not itself to the word should stop but to involve the feelings and the memories. And it returns overbearingly the request of the protagonist (that is homosexual) of not to stop itself to the appearance of the persons. Thing that we find in "Io, L'Ultimo" (I, The Last"), Where the protagonist of the story denounces to to be left in apart from the society. Also in "Io, L'Ultimo" hits the music that is dramatically sweet but very powerful. "Clausura" ("Strict Enclosure") sees the protagonist revolt ask to its conscience. Nevertheless it didn't succeed to give a reply and puts it to the presence of the raw reality. "Who am I?"... A person like a lot. Why all they believe themselves superior to the other and instead they are equal to all? Why the love has like counter-item the solitude? They aren'teasy answered. And in fact the protagonist It asks the reply in front to a statue of Maria. But a statue doesn't answer! And the insertion of the orchestra increases the drama of the requests. "Toccami" ("Touches me"), so, it becomes one of the better moments of the album. In "Delvish" the protagonist is sold to the devil, even if the belief in God will not die ever. "Delvish" is the song more Prog of the album but, also, the song aged more badly in "Antico Teatro Da Camera". Nevertheless the light is able to be us. Rosanna, the mother of the protagonist should be been a model of life for the protagonist. That, nevertheless it the love becomes done not correspond some protagonist, make suffer its heart.The lyrics, the distorted guitar, the synths and a very power drums They describe a shapely woman, attractive but really severe, in a position of to electrocute you with the look. And, with its death, the beginning of the problems of connection with the humanity of the protagonist. That "Sognando Rosanna"("Dreamy Rosanna") hung to "Un Pittore" ("A Painter") That like Van Gogh was left in apart. But that it knows that a day will be able to ransom itself.

Still present in the contents (it is in the lyrics that in the music) and aged extreme very well, "Antico teatro Da Camera" should make reflect all we. Because the society, after thirty years is, if we want, still worst.

My review is produced using this release: RCA/ BMG Ariola S.p.A. ND 74120

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

Concept album with a good Fantasy story (but with not fantasy moral) "Diario Di Viaggio Della Festa Mobile) is a good Symphonic Rock album for piano and electric guitar. The location is recalled from the music that it is really simply and immediate but more evocative. In fact the mix between the boogie piano, the electric guitar, the voice and the chourus united to the Rock rhythms evoke extreme very well the story that comes recounted. The so essential production gives back the sounds a lot of buckets but this is the winning marches. Other winning point is the arrengements. Already, because to it the doubt comes me that there they be. In fact this album runs free and doing not weigh like a mountain torrent and it is tasted like a good glass of Brunello Di Montalcino or Primitivo Di Manduria (the last wine suggestion because this wine and this band are from Puglia). And prince Xim Om of Stellas thanks all to have attended at its party.

This is one of the best Symphonic album and band of RPI world. And with this sole album hi the center of the objective. I don't add other. Otherwise I ruin the atmosphere.

ROCKY'S FILJ

ROCKY'S FILJ — Storie Di Uomini E Non

My review is produced using this review: BMG Ricordi S.p.A. 74321-98160-2

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

One of the more interesting, personal and innovative and unfortunately band from Italy. Unfortunately bacause the all Banco del Mutuo Soccorso's staff work for this album and the band is disbanded when a member was arrested (and the disc almost not even published), stopping the dreams of a band that would have been able to be one of the better, not only in Italy. Interesting, personal and innovative because not having the keyboards but the saxes section the instrumental parts are Jazz Rock but the vocal parts (with the good and exciting voice of Rocky Rossi) are too Rock and Symphonic. So it talks about Symphonic Jazz Rock. In this sense "Il Soldato" or "Io Robot" are very good examples of Rocky's Filj style. Interesting the long "L'Ultima Spiaggia" really boiling, mix between Art Rock, Symphonic and Jazz (for resonance). The instrumental "E" is, instead, a good Jazz Rock. The final piece "Martino" is a really photocopy of the previous sung songs. But with symphonic very exciting final with sax. Interesting one interlude in "L'Ultima Spiaggia" and the intro of "Io Robot" with double-bass and flute that are two good examples of Romantic classic music.

For the Ricordi label the Rocky's Filj have to be one of the tours de force of the catalog for a lot of years. But the Italian justice stopped this band. I should say that still today the regretted it is a lot, also because, this album seems just published, so it is fresh and present. For this reason the 5/5 is little. Another Gem from Italy, another Gem from the Prog world... Very higly recommended!!!

My review is produced using this release: BMG 82876544112

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

Oh my God... This is a very beautiful gem. Is a very good gem of Song Songwriter Prog!!! Toto Torquati is one of the best Italian keyboarder, songwriter and sessionman, it is in Jazz that POP field thanks to the musical studies that it turned from the age of 5 years. Its sensibility derives from the fact of to be blind from the birth. If you think that "Gli Occhi Di Un Bambino" is a disc for keyboards you are outside road. Rather it is an autobiographical album, because Toto Torquati seeks to express those feelings that every blind test cause the scarcity of the sight (with the help of the beautiful voice of Gepy & Gepy and the lyrics of Sergio Bardotti and Sergepy). This is a trip from Jazz to Bach, to Pink Floyd and John Lennon to Wagnerand Verdi. And, everything with a sole sensibility. From one of the best Jazzist of Italy and Europe this is the minimum. The music is, in general, Symphonic Prog but with song songwriter approach and Jazzy arrengements with orchestra (that play a Wagnerian interludes and that have "La Terra Che Nessuno Conosce" to explode). "The Eyes Of A Child" (this is the title in English) is a very fine album also for the lyrics, since, even though written from seeing authors, they reflect the state of mind of a blind person, in this helped from the Soul voices of Gepy & Gepy (that knew well Torquati because their keyboarder). Other thing that astonishes is like Toto Torquati restive almost in apart, produced only interventions of support to the music, doing not result invading and without research rhythmic soli, does that it is appreciated with a so cheerful dramatic music. And, actual the combinations of the ingredients that I wanted to describe in this review, give back "Gli Occhi Di Un Bambino" a real gem.

One of the best Song songwriter Prog albums. One of the more aged well. Practically fresh like the water of a torrent of mountain. To listen to when it it is sought a comfort in a difficult moment.

— First review of this album —

My review is produced using this release: It (Dischi Italia)/ BMG 74321984492

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

This is one of more obscure release of Italian Prog. And one of the more couriouses. It is a Rock Opera written by Emilio Locurcio, a good Italian theatre actor, famous in the 70's. The artists involved in the vocal parts are all today well-known (Rosalino Cellamare with the name of Ron and Claudio lolli for the 7o's revival). The music is a mix between Psychedelia, Prog (Non Symphonic Prog), Avant Garde, Jazz and in some points it isn't connected between the varied parts. nevertheless it is listenned to all of a breath because the arrengements, the productions and the sound remedy to the lacks. In general, today, "L'eliogabalo" is a document. The music started with the intro "Tutto Quello Che Mi è Stato Tolto Lo Rivoglio", certainly not memorable. But the things improve with "Autoritratto Dentro Stanze Elettroniche", opening on the politics of the "Brigate Rosse", of the working-class struggle with a strange music (sweet but hard, warm and electric). The story is very hard and the protagonist (the Situationist) is compelled to take refuge itself in the love to forget the badly. But the badly (or the indisposition) seems to triumph. From Hard Rock but sweet the music becomes hard, extreme and the vocal parts follow. But with melodic interludes. "A Scaldarci Al Vino Dolce Dei Chilometri" is a bridge for the urban story of "Giovanna Labbromorto", the story of a woman that knows only to love. But that it is daughter of its time, of the contradictions of the Italian society of the 70's. The music is very dramatic. Even if weird sweet. To love Giovanna means to suffer, to hate and to fight. It follows the second (and the last) part of "A Scaldarci Al Vino Dolce Dei Chilometri", another bridge for the world of the 70's. In fact "Dal Finestrino Del Treno" is the story of a mind trip of one "Metropolitan girl", the fiery voice of Teresa De Sio, that to strokes it seems possessed and a mind trip of one "student", Rosalino Cellamare (Ron) that it recounts a journey in a rotten train. The two parts directly aren't connected between them but they represent the contaddictions of the society, represent also in the industrious mining society of "La Ferrovia Celeste". Naturally the metaphors would be able to be a lot. But my reading is honest. In fact A lot of mines come exploited but then exhaust themselves swiftly. Like the dreams of the people that should resign itself to the to run some events. And the music is a dramatic but sweet and hard Rock. "La Primavera Feroce" is a goos Symphonic song with guitar and organ (and Instrumental). It folloes "La Scelta Di Essere Veramente Liberi" dove the "Situationist" wants to convince us everybody the struggle will take to the happiness. Everything seasoned by a melting music, with violin and piano. The "Student" meets the " farmer still pure " (Lucio Dalla) that he tells the history of "Eliogabalo", a become lunatic emperor, which to the struggle prefer the art. Everything with a dry music and then very fast and psychedelic and then from circus with conclusion Be Bop. The insanity is in those! The people is gone crazy. It how itself can defend if the army was replaced from the paintings of Picasso, Van Gogh or Emilio Vedova? ("La Gente In Strada"). So it the revolution arrives. The emperor comes killed!!! and in "La Morte Di Eliogabalo" I review the fine tragedian of the Blessed Beato Di saint Genies, Patriarch of Aquileia (killed near my house), also if the two whores are replaced from two priests. Eliogabalo ends to the hell, in the mines of diamonds. All this mean than we should fight for the ideal In a struggle that it will not have ever end. Tersa De Sio (the "Metropolitan Girl") It sings like pits possessed in a hard Rock almost symphonic, dry and weighing. In one word: the better part of the album, the most reflective with "Autoritratto Dentro Stanze Elettroniche" and "Giovanna Labbromorto". Surely, therefore a large warning to pursue the ideal in a struggle without arms but expressing the proper ideas. And the final is a big party of the people for the freedom found. And also it have it understood it how to fight (that it is fundamental) ("Avvertenze- Finalino Per Altri Inizi").

The lyrics have a fundamental importance, like the music. It is necessary to analyze them together, them in the society of the period. Emilio Locurcio it grew at Turin, town of the FIAT and of the unions and unionists, where the struggle arms of the "Brigate Rosse" was able to hit and to kill whoever, also only if it suspected to be oppose them. Emilio Locurcio this represents in "L'Eliogabalo". Without fear. And in this sense is a very hard Opera Rock. That it does not emit sentences. But that it should make reflect.