All Prog From Italy Appreciation Thread

— First review of this album —

My review is produced using this release: Aerostella/ Edel 018291AER

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

June, 2007 29th... Baroque Day!!! "Concerto Grosso, The Seven Season" is in shop!!! And immediately I bought a copy!!! Boys... I don't know you... but that to say? It believed to have listened to all... above all for how much pertains the album "group and Orchestra" but... sh*t!!! A new standard is here!!! Franz Di Cioccio decides that "Stati Di Immaginazione" was an album... Already, like a lot... And appearance that put the hands on an album of Le Orme... Because this is the real sentence. Baroque Symphonic Prog Metal in the song more Rock and Baroque/ Symphonic Prog in the song with orchestra... Ok, this is the formula of "Concerto Grosso Per I New rolls"... And Believe me... "Concerto Grosso, The Seven Seasons" is 1.000.000 times better. Not only for record, because "Concerto Grosso Per I New Trolls" from this point of view was a lot more adventurous, but also for the music. In my opinion "Concerto Grosso, The Seven Season" is a new standard for Italian Prog... But also for all of the Classic Prog because conveys the Prog Metal in Classic Metal absosporbing he (and done not come to to say me that the Dream Theater are more brilliant in this sense)). Adventurous album? Well... No!!! This because the songs are simple, damned immediate and all exciting. Yes, this is another damned 70's album. But, this is the beautiful news, played so new... Too new... Also if the start ("The Knowledge") is a photocopy of the "Concerto Grosso Per I New Trolls" this new "Concerto Grosso" is more varied and powerful. Also because the production puts in stand out the power. Also a piano of "The Season Of Hope" is in possess of a war power that leaves to open mouth. The orchestra will be not it "The Royal Philarmonic Orchestra" or the "Wiener Philarmoniker" or the "Berliner Philarmoniker" or "Orchestra Sinfonica della Scala (milan)" but "The White Light Orchestra" and Stefano Cabrera isnt Muti or Mazel... But isn't fundamental because finally the orchestra and the Rock group are an only entity. The only orchestra part in "Simply Angels" seems copied from "Concerto For Group And Orchestra" (Deep Purple) but here have... More power. And in general the air that it is breathed in the songs is that of a big family that cannot betray. And in fact it doesn't betray. Another annotation: The parts vocal have the same echo that the New Trolls used in the 70's. And too the same harmonies. Ahhh, the orchestra isconducted by Stefano Cabrera, historycal collaborator of New Trolls, specially in "UT". And not a case the more Rock songs they seem gone out from "UT" (specially the bonus track "So Che Ci Sei", Italian version of "Dance With The Rain").

Welcome New Trolls. But I didn't think with an album like this. Because the years are passed... It haven't more nothing to show... But, in fund, other return would not have had sense. My friends... The New Trolls is here!!!

HUNKA MUNKA*

My review is produced using this release: BMG 74321-98448-2

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

Where I have already heard "Cattedrali di Bambù" and his amazing powerful refrain? Probably in a Revival radio Station... But in this case if you love the Hammond Organ... This is your album. The songs are consructions around the customizer by Hunka Munka (Roberto carlotto) Hammond organ. But the lyrics are importants in these songs. However the Hammond (And all the its possible sounds) dominate the songs!!! But it doesn't result ever above the lines. Rather Ivan Graziani succeeds to write excellent musicss where the Hammond is the winning element and the lyrics isn't superfluous. "Io Canterò Per Te" is a typical Power Beat ballad... And yet the organ is so Heavy (in the rhythmic soli) that becomes indispensable together with the orchestra. Is a strange album because isn't a really Song songwriter Prog album, because the songs are song songwriter songs... Are 100% Prog songs. Rather the songs have a song songwriter flavour... but with 1.000.000 times power and technique. So a beat title track "Giovanna G." have a good Kinks flavour but is a very good song for all Progsters. Therefore, in general is to Hammond album but the Hammond is used to the manner of Bach... To increase the power of soft songs. Some songs ("Il Canto Dell'Amore", for example) anticipate the style that "Cucciolo" and Carlotto will carry in the Dik Dik.

Roberto Carlotto in Italy is synonym of vintage keyboards. You listen to this album and will understand because. And I understood because it is one of the greater rarity of the Italian Prog!!!

NAPOLI CENTRALE

My review is produced using this release: BMG Ricordi S.p.A. 74321890282 (Gli Indimenticabili)

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

If you love Jazz Rock this is another considerable album. Simply... But not for this poor. Napoli Centrale is a really sole band, because unites Jazz and Neapolitan Folk and it is introduced in a band of products upset to a sick and tired public of the usual Prog. In this sense this "Mattanza" is a good album, also if inferior to the debut album "Napoli Centrale". In every case for to understand their music doesn't be necessary to be geniuses. If the Perigeo is the cultured band of the Italian Jazz, the Napoli Centrale are the band of the common people, what wants to carry the Jazz to level of music really to populate. James Senese and Franco del Prete composed a really good album where the Jazz culture meets really the neapolitan culture!!! Also if "Napoli Centrale" is the maximum example of this particular fusion, this "Mattanza" closes good second (but for me correctly because except for neapolitan). Songs like "Simme Iute E Simme Venute", "Sotto A' Suttana", "Sotto E 'N Coppa", "Sangue Misto", "Forse Sto Capenno" or "Chi Fa L'Arte E Chi S'Accatta" are all vry good songs but I think that a little one more of magic would not have ruined. Besides "Chi Fa L'Arte E Chi S'Accatta" is Rock with electric pianto that is the Jazz element with the woodwinds, does that it allows to indicate the Napoli centralel like first teachers of the "Neapolitan power".

In general is a very good Jazz album. And another album to rediscover. Also because Napoli Centrale are one of the points of diamond of the Italian Prog.

— First review of this album —

My review is produced using this release: Cinevox Record CD MDF 342

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

The return of Goblin... That return!!! Yes, the Goblin's elements are all in this O.S.T.. But sure the sound is more modern, the composition are more neighbors to the Prog Metal or of a strange Horror version of a mix between VDGG and ELP. But sure this album doesn't disappoint the expectations. The guitars is a la Santana and the keyboards are more mellow that in past times, in "Endless Love", Horror ballad, the music is more near to New Age. But in general this is a music that it puts much more anxiety than in past (fault the association of Synth, used often like pianos or with their true sound and electric guitars). The first song "Non Ho Sonno" is a good mid tempo Symphonic Prog Metal, that not emotion not even to pay but the rest of the songs... In this sense is still worst!!! And that interesting operation the mini suite in 4 parts "Movie soundtracks: The Death Farm Animals" where returns the subject of "Non Ho Sonno". Extreme interesting "Ulisse" where Simonetti and Antonio Marangolo plays an Horror version of Vangelis. Interesting also the anxiety of "Death Farm" with a slow Black Metal begin and interludes (of electric guitar) Prog develop and solo a la Jens Johanson/ Timo Tolki duel!!!

Good return for an immense band. Because it is true the anxiety is here!!!

EMILIO* LOCURCIO

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.

BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO

My review is produced using this release: Vinyl Magic Productions VM 006

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

The first listen og "Biglietto Per L'inferno" goes back to 1998 means a MC copy. The girl that it had lent me the MC had ensured me that this album would be pleased me really. Still today I haven't words to thank it. Thanks, Elies. But now... You will want a review And these not memories that to you, just, don't interest. And here the review: Extremely power Symphonic Prog with hard and complex lyrics (for 1974, 1989, 2007...). Religion... Religious politics, wanting to to be demanded and for to be demanded theology. This is the argument of this album. The tragedy of "L'Amico Suicida" , "Il Nevare", "Confessione" or "Una Strana Regina" have a power... that it puts anxiety. And this is the real atmosphere of this album: powerful anxiety!!! "Baffo" Banfi is an another virtuoso of keyboards (and today one of the more appreciate session man from Italy) and Claudio Canali has in possess of one contagious power that only Francesco Di Giacomo possess (this said who it had seen in action both bands!!!). The power of the rhytm section is very irresistible because he plays a sort of Symphonic Rock rhytm and the guitar is very heavy. This is a very perverse way to treat the religion but this personal treatment allowed to "Biglietto Per L'Inferno" of to be already immortal in the 1974.

Highly recommended. Not only for Progsters but for all Classic Music lover. Because this is!!!

CAMPO DI MARTE

My review is produced using this release: Remastered by AMS Vinyl Magyc (BTF) (AMS 101 CD) in 2006 with order of the songs as for original priject

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

Here to you the original concept! In fact the United Artist distorted the concept of the album doing a new mix and inverting the order of the sides of the LP only to have a Hard Rock beginning!!! Instead today we have the original version thanks to the AMS/ BTF. It is necessary to say that the result is a simple album of Symphonic Classic Music composed from Enrico Rosa and is only Rock for the instruments used. The original concept was based on the nonsense of the war. Using the a lot of instruments available a clear moment of peace and harmony was recreated even if in the medieval age (you see name of the band and the cover) and for this the music is very sweet. Nevertheless the electric guitar of Enrico Rosa represents the agression of troops in gear. And all to show the nonsense of the war. And I should say that the parts more Hard Rock give back well the idea of the agression like the sweet parts give back well the idea of the peace and harmony.

Thanks to the AMS/BTF we can admire the work how thought about the origin (but if gone out by name Osh Gosh Bigosh [fortune that changed name...] would have done the same effect?). And the 5 stars are actual for this version. Otherwise it alone 4 would have deserved of it!!!

DELIRIUM (ITA)

My review is produced using this release: On sale Music 52 OSM 079 Licensed by Lord sas

My Rating:6,5/10 PA Rating:3/5

Genua December 23rd 1962. This is the date of the first concert of this mythical group: I Sagittari... Well... I Delirium. In 1966 with the entry of Di Martino this band included already 2 future I Delirium (Reale E Di Santo entry in 1968). In 1967 with the help of Giampiero Reverberi and Natalino Otto the debut. In this cronological CD the songs from "giorni Difficili" to "La Vita Va" is good Beat near the Brit POP. "D'Amore Non Si Può Morire" with its flute can be considered Proto Prog. Brit POP a la Herman's Hermits or "Manfred Mann" is present also in "L'Abbaglio" with a traverse flute that remember the Jethro Tull (thing does that it will be abused from I Delirium). Totally Prog... Ehm... Proto Prog "Serenata Del Batterista", Brit POP with Waltz interlude and micro drums soli and "Se Vi Dicessi" with hHammond and Prog voice (of Mimmo Di Martino). After a single recorded exclusively for the "Pesaro Festival" ("Vacanze A pesaro" [a Dixieland] and the strange "Sulla Spiaggia Di Pesaro") quite Prog arrived!!! With the single "Buongiorno Amore/ Io Ne Morirei" well we can talk about Prog. This because all of the Prog ingredients are present. In general all the songs of I Sagittari are more boogie and poerful respect to the songs of I Delirium. The story of I Sagittari it has limit in 1970 when enters in formation Ivano Fossati that it has different ideas with respect to the last original member, Riccardo anselmi that it leaves the band. It is the birth of I Delirium.

CD extremely mattering and impossible to appraise. Extremely mattering for the Italian music, recovered from that genius and big colletionist that is Italo Gnocchi. Thanks, Italo!!!

HOPO

My review is produced using this release: BMG Ricordi 74321860152 (Gli Indimenticabili)

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

debut with bang for Napoli Centrale, one of the more important 70's bands from Italy and one of the first example of Neapolitan Power Jazz Rock. In this case is a sort of Neapolitan Folk Jazz. This album is still incredibly fresh and present, like just produced. I could close here with the review. Nevertheless it is interesting to continue. The sax and the voice of James Senese are the real distinctive instruments like the electric piano of Mark Harris. Another distinctive Nali Centrale trademark is the use of Neapolitan dialect and Neapolitan mentality for to create a sole Jazz, without time and impossible to describe without a listening. I listen to that, incredible, it should be distracted. Because only so it is understood the music of this disc. "Campagna" was a big success. And this plays me incredible. But all "Napoli Centrale" is an extreme incredible disc.

If you love the Experimentations in Jazz field... It does waited for to listen to "Napoli Centrale"?