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Andrea Cortese View Drop Down
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Points: 4411 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 05:58
Another excellent review! Well done, James!Clap
 
 
FORMULA%203%20La%20Grande%20Casa%20progressive%20rock%20album%20and%20reviews Italian Symphonic Prog
(Studio Album, 1973)
Avg: 3.11/5
from 8 ratings
FORMULA 3 — La Grande Casa
Review by Finnforest (James)

3%20stars Great album for wine at the summer house.

La Grande Casa is the underappreciated little brother of the previous Formula 3 album that gets all of the accolades. But this little kid is charming and should not be written off by those who appreciate early 70s acoustic rock albums. It is not typical of other Italian Symphonic genre releases in that it has an almost folksy hippie rock feel courtesy of generous acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies. The music has an intimate, romantic, communal vibe that occasionally reminds me of the Californian rock of the period though it doesn’t give up its own identity either.

“Rapsodia de Radius” begins with acoustic guitar before keys and electric join in. The short 30 minute length of the album plays out like one extended piece with different sections: fairly mellow acoustic moments, quiet vocals, then up tempo and slightly more rocking moments with nice lead guitar. In this way there is some resemblance to the early PFM albums. Apart from the quiet vocals there are moments where we get sort of a group sing-along which helps impart the communal feel this album has. We even get some nice sound effects of our characters arriving at the big house at the start of the title track. At 3 minutes is a lovely near-spoken word vocal to piano before things pick up for a rocking ending. The album closes with “Bambina Sbagliata” which has a very sentimental flavor to the lead vocals and longing acoustic guitars. The ending is left to the bass player who riffs a little over keys and mid tempo drumming; not a very memorable ending for this album but it’s a minor complaint.

The photograph of the “big house” that graces the inside of the gatefold cover is absolutely stunning and would be perfect at full size hanging in your living room. It shows the big house in the country on a summer day behind a sweep of yellow wildflowers. If you’re a collector of great album art you will need the mini-LP cd Japanese gatefold reissue for your collection. While not essential this title should please Italian rock lovers and 70s acoustic rock fans.

Posted Monday, June 25, 2007, 21:05 EST
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Points: 5851 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 08:47
Oh, yes... There are too excellent reviews to signal the all!!! 

But also this is a great review:

RACCOMANDATA RICEVUTA RITORNO

Per... Un Mondo Di Cristallo

(Studio Album, 1972)
Limmagine%20“http://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/535/cover_295921362003.jpg”%20non%20può%20essere%20visualizzata%20poiché%20contiene%20degli%20errori.
Review by Andrea Cortese (Andrea Cortese)
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Italian Prog Specialist

5%20stars This is a hell of an album, a classic. I know of a certain proghead who would surely confirm it. “Per ... un Mondo di Cristallo” is the only record ever released by this band under the name of Raccomandata Ricevuta di Ritorno (RRR for short). As usual in RPI, it's a wonderful debut album. Not clearly a symphonic prog effort in the pure sense, since the evident jazzy vein, as in the instrumental track “Nel Mio Quartiere” (In My District, 3,58 mns) and the omnipresent folky and pastoral touches, faithfully to the purest italian tradition. This interesting mix of genres is what many other italian bands of the seventies have created, each one in its peculiar way. Just think to Delirium, for instance who went mixing jazz, folk and Crimson's early symphonic experience. Just think to Procession who were more lucky than RRR and managed to record a pair of convincing records. Just think to Osanna and their unique musical madness from Neaples. To name but a few.

As some of you already know, “Per ... un Mondo di Cristallo” is a concept album based on the return to earth of a solitary astronaut. After the landing of his spacecraft he realizes that human kind has suddenly and mysteriously disappeared while he was away in the outer space. What an anguishing situation. Anguish is what this beautiful music is based on and you can hear it clearly all through the record and, in particular in “Il Mondo Cade su di Me” (World Falls on Me, 6,48 mns) and the short bu extraordinary “L'Ombra” (Shadow, 3,38 mns).

What makes RRR so unique and spectacular isn't the pompous production. It's the dramatic pattern, the theatrical and impressive development of the eight composition, the anguishing alternation of classic piano, organ, flute, sax, contrabass, guitars and orchestra! It's a musical journey into solitude of man, into his deepest daily desperation. For these reasons there are not comfortable moments. Each track smells of End and is perfectly executed as it was the most perfect closer. Obviously this may not be agreed by someone, but evidently the creativity's level is very high and impressive. This is what we call the proof that RPI is a more suitable acronym than ISP.

4,5 stars for sure, rounded 'cause RRR really deserved another chance.


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Points: 46833 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 09:02
^^^^  YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!  still waiting for you Mandy to give that album another star hahahhaWink

I guess it was your review Andrea that guy didn't like hahhaha. He said he hadn't looked at mine.   I wanted to give it 5 but you know I do my ratings a bit differently.
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Points: 46833 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 09:03
actually...that gives me an idea for a poll....
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Andrea Cortese View Drop Down
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Points: 4411 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 09:40
Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

^^^^  YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!  still waiting for you Mandy to give that album another star hahahhaWink

I guess it was your review Andrea that guy didn't like hahhaha. He said he hadn't looked at mine.   I wanted to give it 5 but you know I do my ratings a bit differently.
 
Honestly, I also wanted to give a four star rate but I changed my opinion yesterday in the evening 'cause RRR' sound is really unique and the general rating were too low.Approve


Edited by Andrea Cortese - June 26 2007 at 09:41
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Points: 5851 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 11:26
A key of reading really interesting to understand better PFM's "Stati Di Immaginazione" is to listen to it together to PFM's "Ulisse" and Franco Mussida's "Racconti Della Tenda Rossa" like part of a chance trilogy. 

This is the review of Mussida's "Racconti Della Tenda Rossa":

FRANCO* MUSSIDA

Racconti Della Tenda Rossa

(Studio Album, 1991)
Limmagine%20“http://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/3038/cover_41092662007.jpg”%20non%20può%20essere%20visualizzata%20poiché%20contiene%20degli%20errori.
Review by Mandrakeroot (Andrea Salvador)
Collaborator Italian Prog Specialist

— First review of this album —

4%20stars My review is produced using this release: Virgin Dischi SRL VDIK 7124 (MC)

My Rating:7/10 PA Rating:4/10

This first solo album by Franco Mussida "Racconti Della Tenda Rossa" is an album in the vein of acoustc guitar Prog... And one of the album that I prefer in my discography. Sure Franco Musida is one of the best guitarplayer of all time and in this album Mussida creates of the attractive bridges with the fantasy and the pleasure of to play a sole instrument. The use of the acoustic guitar returns to Steve Howe's "Spectrum" but with an arabic use of the voices. The songs can seem POP but goes said that there it is a search towards a musical shape that will be taken again in the albums "Ulisse" and also in the last "Stati Di Immaginazione" of the PFM, at least for it search for simple atmospheres, easy to listen to and above all built to dream. In this sense "La Cava Di Sabbia" is a song that in "Stati Di Immaginazione" It wouldn't have been superfluous. Franco Mussida gives long all of the album excellent scores of guitar that to concept level isn't distant from Riccardo Zappa, also if in this case the songs are more POP. In this last sense the strange Jazzy "Dance Classique" is another example because Mussida tribute also the style of Al Di Meola!!! In "Racconti Della Tenda Rossa" You will not find the classic one 70' s Italian Prog, but a POP Prog and also more innermost. Also because Franco Mussida had way to put fruit Personal experiences very deep, that the to play in prisons or community of recover. And this listens to well in "La Discesa Di Michele", song little Prog but struggent and extreme coinvolgent. Also the short "Porti Lontani" is good in this direction because returns to one of the much villages of fishermen of the South Italy where every day a fisherman leaves and doesn't know if will return. And with the successive one "Zanoobia" creates a really sole pathos. In a certain sense "Racconti Della Tenda Rossa" it is approached also to the last works of Le Orme, also because it is obvious a search for the feeling with respect to the power and to the virtuosism. To the end, the last best song of hese album is "Tenda Rossa", another emotional slow song.

In the road that it will carry the PFM to produce "Ulisse" and the last masterpiece "Stati Di Immaginazione" this "Racconti Della Tenda Rossa" is the start. Unfortunately the three albums isn't consecutive albums... And the first one is a Franco Mussida's solo album. But for me "Racconti della Tenda Rossa", "Ulisse" and "Stati Di Immaginazione" go listened to like part of a trilogy. For this fact Franco Mussida is in PA. And for this fact I recommended this "Racconti Della Tenda Rossa".




Edited by Mandrakeroot - June 26 2007 at 11:26
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micky View Drop Down
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Points: 46833 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 13:41
Originally posted by Andrea Cortese Andrea Cortese wrote:

Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

^^^^  YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!  still waiting for you Mandy to give that album another star hahahhaWink

I guess it was your review Andrea that guy didn't like hahhaha. He said he hadn't looked at mine.   I wanted to give it 5 but you know I do my ratings a bit differently.
 
Honestly, I also wanted to give a four star rate but I changed my opinion yesterday in the evening 'cause RRR' sound is really unique and the general rating were too low.Approve


that was a great review by the way...

I think (did my review of that some time ago)  I gave it 4 for the site.. but 5 stars for my  personal enjoyment.  
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Points: 46833 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 13:43
good review Mandy! Nice point about the trilogy...
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Points: 5851 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 13:58
Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

good review Mandy! Nice point about the trilogy...


Naturally it is only my key of reading...!!! 

However "Racconti Della Tenda Rossa" has a lot of points in commune with "Stati Di Immaginazione"... Even though only to conceptual level!!! 
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Points: 4411 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 16:13

Wonderful! Other great news from BTF:

 
1) Alberomotore - Il Grande Gioco (1974) reissue
 
 
 
Long OOP record, finally available again!!
A five-piece of very good musicians from Rome, Alberomotore (or Albero Motore as
it was sometimes written) were aided and produced by 60's singer-guitarist Ricky
Gianco.
The musicians where involved with acts like “Il Ritratto di Dorian Gray”,
Raccomandata con Ricevuta di Ritorno, Samadhi, Goblin, Libra, Quella
Vecchia Locanda, ,Carnascialia.
In "Il grande gioco" they worked together with songwriter Ricky Gianco (owner of
the Ultima Spiaggia label), Carlo Siliotto (Carnascialia), Giuliano Illiani (also
known as Donatello, a well-known Italian singer), Luigi Cinque, who played with
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso for awhile and Gianni Nebbiosi.
In this album the band recorded tracks that are not immediately recognizable as
classic Italian prog, having a rural and genuine hard rock edge, full of suspense,
highlighting the excellent and rough voice of Maurizio Rota. Also the record has a
very good musical continuity and is still an excellent listen.
After disbanding, most musicians of Albero Motore where involved in folk or world
music projects: Marcello Vento played in Carnascialia and Canzoniere del Lazio,
but also for Antonello Venditti and Loredana Bertè, Marcello Vento with
Pierangelo Bertoli and Jenny Sorrenti, Adriano Martire with Pietro Brega.
CD reissue in deluxe papersleeve edition with extended liner notes.
 
 
 
 
2) I Numi - Alpha Ralpha Boulevard (1971) reissue
 
 
 
A band from Pavia formed around 1967 from the ashes of local beat groups Gli Spettri, I
Solitari, Gli Imprevisti, they only released an album in 1971 for the small Polaris label (the
same as I Teoremi).
Alpha Ralpha Boulevard nowadays is considered a minor Italian prog classic , is housed in a
very nice cover, while music is song-based, with soft and dreamy atmospheres and good
lyrics by composer Guido Bolzoni. He had worked with some important names of the
Italian pop music (like Mina).
Some foreign influences are evident in the guitar playing of Mario Rognoni (nicknamed
Carlos for his ability in playing in Santana style), but the band's sound has a strong, typical
Italian melodic songwriters vein. Instead of symphonic pomp, I Numi focus on straightedged
plots, based on the interplay between guitar and spinet, the excellent drumming,
while lyrics mainly dealt with human condition, and an overall sad melancholy.
The band had a good concert activity and even played at the Festival di Re Nudo in Zerbo
in 1972, one of that year's main musical events. Also they supported acts like Banco del
Mutuo Soccorso, Patrick Samson, Franco Battiato and The Renegades. The group split
later the same year, when drummer Sollazzi left to join Lucio Dalla's band.
Numi incarnation was reformed in 1975, this time with two keyboardists and a more
symphonic and ambitious sound. This line-up composed several concept works, the best of
them will be seen on CD in a future AMS release.
CD reissue in deluxe papersleeve edition with extended liner notes and unreleased pictures.
 
 
 
 


Edited by Andrea Cortese - June 26 2007 at 16:16
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Points: 5851 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 17:20
Oniric promotion:

Today I wrote to the mail of the Lizard Records and I obtained answered from LorisFurlan that it ensured me that it will listen to them and that then it will know to say me.  It seems interested, because it says that it is always to the search for something again and not of the usual Italian Prog. 

Unfortunately it writes me that it has in gone out 4 CD and that then will be compelled to take a short pause...  Because the Italian market (and in all general) isn't flourishing. Loris is all right with me when I talk about deep state of coma.  We hope well!!! 
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Points: 5851 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 26 2007 at 17:21
Good News, My friend!!!
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Points: 46833 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 27 2007 at 08:22
hahah...  you are the man Mandy.  great news indeed. I know I wouldn't stand in your way hahha.  After an album or two.. write Richard Branson or something... he HAS to be tired of all that sh*t they put out.  Remind him of the way Virgin USED to be hahaha. 


Anyhow...  for discussions sake... here's a list of albums from my personal  'bible' of RPI that lists information, discrographies, line ups of almost 400 RPI groups and artists.  The book also includes some 7 interviews with lesser known musicians and recollects their days of the prog rock movement in Italy.  The book provides a list of recommended/required albums.  Some I agree with strongly... some I don't..  what do you all think. They obviously only did one album per group.

Alluminogini - Scolopendra
Alphataurus - s/t
Balletto di Bronzo - Ys
Banco - s/t
Battiato - Pollution
Biglietto per l'inferno - s/t
Califfi - Fiore di metallo
Capitiolo 6 - Frutti per Kagua
Corte dei Miracoli - s/t
De De Lind - Io non so da dove vengo
Delirium - Dolce acqua
Edgar Allan Poe - Generazioni
Garybaldi - Nuda
I Giganti - Terra in bocca
Ibis - s/t
Jumbo - DNA
Metamorfosi - Inferno
Museo Rosenbach - Zarathrustra
New Trolls - Concerto Grosso N.1
Le Orme - Collage
Osage Tribe - Arrowhead
Osanna - L'uomo
Pierrot Lunaire - s/t
PFM - Storia di un minuto
Quella Vecchia Locanda - s/t
RDM - Contaminazione
Samadhi - s/t
Trip - Caronte
L'uovo di Colombo - s/t
Il Volo - s/t

what would you guys replace...and with what..  I think the theme was to show the  definative RPI albums.. and to show the historical import.  Only way to explain a couple of the selections hahah.


Edited by micky - June 27 2007 at 08:24
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Points: 1136 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 27 2007 at 08:33

I'd recommend to replace the Alluminogeni (I think that Scolopendra has got the worst production and - most of all - the worst lyrics in RPI) with "Fragments of Light" (or "Finest Finger") by Sensations' Fix. Anyway, I wonder if there is some rules or limitations to new entries in this list, as I notice that only the symphonic side of RPI is here considered (no Area, Arti e Mestieri, Aktuala or Opus Avantra, for instance).
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Points: 46833 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 27 2007 at 08:40
Originally posted by paolo.beenees paolo.beenees wrote:

I'd recommend to replace the Alluminogeni (I think that Scolopendra has got the worst production and - most of all - the worst lyrics in RPI) with "Fragments of Light" (or "Finest Finger") by Sensations' Fix. Anyway, I wonder if there is some rules or limitations to new entries in this list, as I notice that only the symphonic side of RPI is here considered (no Area, Arti e Mestieri, Aktuala or Opus Avantra, for instance).



give that man a cigar.... other than a couple of albums from some artists like Jumbo and Osanna that I would change... that is the first thing to jump out at me.

In the write ups on Area and Arti e Mestieri they specifically mention how important those groups were.  They mentioned how important ..and unique Aktulala was in bringing arabic music into RPI.Go figure...

good post Clap
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Points: 5851 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 27 2007 at 08:57
I haven't all of the album that you listed in this list, micky...  And I would not replace nothing to your list.  I would add nevertheless (some are too important for me and superfluous for other!!!):

Formula 3: "Dies Irae"
Toto Torquati: "Gli Occhi Di Un Bambino"
Gianni D'Errico: "Antico Teatro Da Camera"
E.A. Poe: "Generazioni (Storia Di Sempre)"
Festa Mobile: "Diario Di Viaggio Della Festa Mobile"
Locanda Delle Fate: "Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Più"
Rocky's Filj: "Storie Di Uomini E Non"
Alan Sorrenti: "Aria"
Riccardo Zappa: "Celestion"
Triade: "1998- La Storia Di Sabazio"
Rustichelli & Bordini: "Opera Prima"


Edited by Mandrakeroot - June 27 2007 at 09:00
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Points: 46833 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 27 2007 at 09:03
oh no Mandy.. it's not mine...  it was out of the book.

I see 3 in your list Mandy that would be absolute musts on that list.  To replace 3 that didn't belong there.

Samadhi, EAP, and Alphataurus to be replaced with Aria, Celestion, and the LDF album (though I'm one of the very few that doesn't care for that album)

I'd also make room for  Tilt, and Crac by taking out Frutti per Kagua which I was NOT impressed with (one that I have actually reviewed.... I really need to review more)  and ...as much as I love it..... Arrowhead.  Too many albums..not enough slots.
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Points: 5851 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 27 2007 at 09:15
Beh, micky...  I am so that the mine and the list that you published become basic for a basic discography of the RPI, reported to the 70's!!!
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Points: 46833 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 28 2007 at 00:57
CryCryCry... the answer to my oft-repeated question....  there IS crying in prog....

http://www.movimentiprog.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Appuntamenti&file=app_view&id=5382

wonder what Raff would say about postponing our wedding hahhaha
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Points: 5851 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 28 2007 at 05:49
Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

CryCryCry... the answer to my oft-repeated question....  there IS crying in prog....

http://www.movimentiprog.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Appuntamenti&file=app_view&id=5382

wonder what Raff would say about postponing our wedding hahhaha


Uhm... Well...  Certainty that in the state of coma in which it is found the Italian Prog...  I spoke just via mail with Loris Furlan of the Lizard Records...  Not to be able to put under contract the groups (unless isn't the usual copy of 70' s Prog) is serious...  Also because the Oniric play so well in its mind... 

micky & Raffa... This is for you:

Limmagine%20“http://www.tapirulan.it/fumetto/french/disegni/matrimonio%20di%20dino.jpg”%20non%20può%20essere%20visualizzata%20poiché%20contiene%20degli%20errori.
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