alrighty....the mighty mick mentions many masterful maestros of mediterranean mesmerizingly metrically meticulous music
excluding PFM, Banco, and Orme.
1. Osanna -Palepoli
not
really too much to say.. you've heard this... at least Oro Caldo.. but
Senza Animale Respiro... christ... watch the bleeding heart ripped out
of your chest and beat with furious passion. As great as Oro Caldo
is... side 2 is screams to be heard. Get it.. own it.. love it.
2. Balletto di Bronzo -
Ysthis says it all...far better than my review.. or any I've read.. posted it many times...
Il Balleto di Bronzo - Ys
Il Balleto di Bronzo's
Ys is an unequivocal classic, and
stands as one of the very best albums out of Italy, and perhaps among the
finest examples of dark, heavy progressive. However, newbies to the
Italian scene might want to approach this one with caution, since it can
be tougher to get into than some of the other popular Italian works. This
was one of the first Italian albums I got, and I was frankly unprepared
for it. The pyrotechnic keyboards, thundering rhythms, the angular,
punishing guitars and the abrasive vocals made for a work that I found
initially dense and unrewarding. For an album that many have hailed as
the best progressive rock album of all time, I was a little disappointed.
Of course, I've come around by now, and certainly hold this album in high
regard as one of the jewels of Italian prog, but that personal anecdote
should serve as a caveat for those expecting to be blown away immediately,
especially if not particularly predisposed towards the more dissonant
branches of progressive rock.
Still, Ys is a complete monster. The music on here is
thundering, cacophonous and simply unrelenting in its sheer, brute force.
This also stands as one of the best keyboard-based albums of all time;
Gianni Leone employs the full range of classic keys, from Hammond, Moog
and Mellotron to piano and harpsichord, pitting them in savage, fiery
duels that will absolutely tear your head off. These are contrasted
against violent guitar riffs and surging basslines, making for a chaotic,
mindbendingly complex ride. The music is punctuated by Leone's
caterwauling operatic vocals, which are perhaps the toughest part of the
album to get into, but are eventually endearing and nothing if not
emotional. Take "Introduzione", an absolute beast of a cut that builds
from volcanic climax to climax, as Hammonds and Moog duel it out for
supremacy. Take the opening riff of "Epilogo," with its brilliant
arpeggiated theme that simply bursts at the seams with intensity. The
entire album is a series of mindblowing passages, with few spots of
respite to be found. An indispensable Italian classic, without a doubt.
Greg Northrup [September 2001]
3. Area - Arbeit Macht Frei
If
you are looking for passion, for fire... oh yes we need Area. Area is
erroneously labeled on this site as a J-R group.. oh no they are far more than that... if you are interested in Italian progressive rock.. RPI.. you must know
Area. Arabic music, rock, free jazz, folk, electronic, and the
avant-garde all are mixed with this HIGHLY politicized group. Let by
one of the most dynamic singers in prog .. in all prog..... Demetrio Stratos this album was their call to arms. You need this album. A masterpiece.
4. Museo Rosenbach - Zarathrustra
a classic that all must hear... the vocals are not pleasurable.. but so
ALIVE
and full of passion. Mellotrons.. Hammonds. .guitars all come in a
HARD symphonic soup of superlative sound. Read Maani's review of this
if you don't believe me. It is that f**king good.
5. Jumbo - Vietato Minori di 18 Anni
Mad giggles ensue imagining
Simon from American Idol listening to 'Jumbo' Fella sing. This is an
incredibly depressing album... all those things that are 'forbidden to
those under 18' Drugs, sex, booze.. those things that can ruin you...
all get the heavy prog treatment here. A soniclly diverse yet DARK
album with incredible music and a Battiato sighting on the VCS 3. I
HIGHLY recommend this album. Hugues wrote a great review of this
album. Check the sample on the site... great opening song.
#6 I Giganti - Terra In Bocca
What a fabulous album.. a year
before Tull... a concept in one song over both sides of the original
vinyl. The music is much lighter than some I've recommended but still
....
extremely satisfying with gorgeous melodies.. and the vocals... oh my... I LOVE the singing on this.
#7 Raccomandata Ricevuta Ritorno - Per... Mondo di Cristallo
If I
had to pick one RPI vocalist who voice drives me to Richard Sinclair
heights of man-whoredom.. it would have to be Luciano Regoli. The
PERFECT RPI mix of symphonic, folk, hard rock and jazz. The 10 minute
mini-epic of Un Palco di Marionette is in my top 5 prog songs... ever.
I love that song. I highly recommend this album.. believe there is a
sample on the site from this album. Check the RPI team's reviews.. we
all love it.. you will as well.
#8 Osage Tribe - Arrowhead
A power trio ..of which two thirds were
composed of two of the most highly regarded instrumentalists to come
out of Italian prog. I'd put them against any of the more well known
names you see thrown around this forum all the time. As I stated in my
review... this is not an intellectual album... this is 3 guys letting
it
RIP and giving it their all. Bob Callero's bass is the star of this album. wow....
#9 Metamorfosi - Inferno
another keyboard classic of prog... with
another beast of a opening cut in Introduzione. Not as dark
(surprisingly hahha) as Ys.. and no where near as brutal or heavy. The
singing on here is more more palatable than on YS. Some fabulous Moog
work on this album. Love it.
#10 Delirium - Delirium III
their best album .. .after a rather uninspired start to the album. .it picks up into a malestorm of furious flute riffing, saxophones, keyboards. I miss Fossati and his voice on here but the vocals aren't bad. .. but muscially ....this is a fabulous album
#11 Biglietto per L'Inferno - s/t
another hard..err.. heavy
quasi symphonic classic from Italy. Duo keyboardists. Impassioned
vocals... and one of the great 'mini-epics' of RPI. L'Amico Suicida.
The intro raises the hairs on my head everytime I hear it.
#12 Pholas Dactylus - Concerto Delle Menti
not much to say about this.. read James, and my reviews. A must for what you are looking for.
#13 Alphataurus - s/t
A hard one for me to recommend. This
is an album that might be exactly in the vein you are looking for..
however.. outside of the KILLER lead track.. which is a sample here..
this album never 'caught' me. However.. a LOT of people love this album
and rank this high in their list of favs. This being a list of
recommendations for you and not merely what I like best. You should
get this album.. check the sample.. LOVE that song.
#14 Campo di Marte - s/t
Another clasic in the vein of hard errr.
symphonic prog... great singing... lots of space for air guitaring
air bass...and air keyboarding. Lot of different moods on the album..
lots of shades.. of light and heavy. A very good album. 2nd tier..
but a great addition down the road.
#15 New Trolls - UT
Not their most important album, the
groundbreaking Concerto Grosso.. which doesn't fit this list. This
album may have been their peak.. all the creative tension between the
hard rock and classical sides came to a head on this album. This album
would be highter.. if but for the last song. .which previewed
...ahhaha... what the New Trolls were to become. I Cavalieri del Lago
dell'Ontario is a FABULOUS track that begs to be heard.
that completes to black list.. later. .the white one.
Edited by micky - May 10 2008 at 08:57
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