Forty Years of Italian Progrock

 

Erik, I didn't realise there was a DVD version. Does this contain any video footage or is it just DVD audio?

 

Glad to hear the evening went well.

 

Excellent Erik, good luck with your new challenge, I'll look forward to reading your contributions. Just had a quick look at the Spanish prog link but I'll have a good read after Christmas when I have more time.

 

                        Memowakeman: Un prospero ano nuevo con mucho RPI

 

                        Nightfly: A happy 'RPI drenched' 2010

 

                        Claudio, Pandora and Domizia: Felice Anno Nuovo

 

This new year started very well: The promising new Italian progrock band The RedZen has sent me a promo package and today iO Pages (Dutch progrock magazine I recently joined) send me the new Barock Project album entitled Rebus  (the successor of their debut CD Misterioso Voci from 2007). I am looking forward to the new Randone album, Domizia, thanks for the compliments and ... I am not religious but if you believe in what you do, it gives you the power and energy you need  !

 

CONQUEROR – Sprazzi Di Luce
- After 3 studio albums between 2003 and 2007, here we have a mini-CD by new Italian formation Conqueror on which 4 tracks (between 3 and 8 minutes): 2 new songs, one cover (from Paolo Morelli) and a live track (2006).
- The first two compositions Sprazzi Di Luce and … E Mi Manchi Tanto start dreamy with flute, Grand piano and wonderful female vocals (Simona Regina, also keyboards), then a slow rhythm and a final part featuring fat synthesizer flights (and vocal harmonies and a saxophone solo in the second song). Next Semplice that sound even more mellow, it is beautifully build around vocals, piano and flute. Finally the longer and live recorded composition Pensieri Fragili, this one delivers Conqueror in its full splendor: lots of dynamics and many shifting moods in the genuine progrock tradition and strong solos on guitar (pretty fiery), saxophone and synthesizer. The contrast between the dreamy parts with flute and more bombastic interludes with heavy guitar riffs and lush keyboards create a pleasant tension, culminating in a compelling conclusion with howling guitar runs and inspired female vocals, great!

 

 

 

 

           Paul, I will ask the Background Magazine team about the forthcoming Chapter 5 (Reunions).

           Today I discovered that Barock Project is not on PA, here's my Progwalhalla review about

           their debut CD:

 

BAROCK PROJECT – Misteriose Voci

- Website info: The Barock Project idea is born from a desire to spread the finest and perfect structure of classic music (mainly baroque music) with rock-style and a little bit of jazz harmony, all supported by a pop song structure. Our intention is to make relive the '70s progressive-rock love. The musical brainchild of this project is keyboardist Luca Zabbini, pianist and composer at the O.Vecchi musical institute in Modena in Italy. His passion for famous keyboardist Keith Emerson has fueled his desire to play a full range of style, from classical to rock and jazz. Luca is the composer of many songs of the band and since 1990 he played in several bands (rock,blues,funky, as classical pianist, in several jam-sessions). During the summer of 2004 the bass player GB Giorgi and the drummer Giacomo Calabria joined to the band. Giambattista Giorgi, young bassist influenced by rock sounds with big passion for jazz. Giambattista and Luca already played together in 1996 with a progressive tribute band (from ELP to PFM). Giacomo Calabria is a drummer who comes from large experience about progressive music, he is a very good percussionist too and he took the degree at Music University in Rome. Luca Pancaldi sings in several bands since 1996 and in 2001 enter in an Iron Maiden's tribute band called Children Of The Damned. With this band in 2002 he started a long tournee all around Europe with historical Maiden's singer Paul Di'Anno. The Barock Project music is perfect for places like theatres and festivals. In January 2007 the band performed live with a string quartet , with arrangements wrote by Luca Zabbini, at Bologna Theater and filmed a DVD called Rock In Theater. In December 2007 the French label Musea Records released Barock Project their debut CD entitled Misteriose Voci.

- For me the use of the Italian language always gives an extra dimension to the music, just listen to the difference between PFM and Banco in Italian and in English, say no more! On Misteriose Voci new band Barock Project delivers strong Italian vocals with a very pleasant emotional undertone. Their sound is accessible, melodic and loaded with the distinctive Hammond organ (swirling solos in Odio, Premonizioni and especially Gentile Direttore). The colouring and interplay of the guitar (lots of sensitive runs) and keyboards (from warm Grand piano to sumptuous organ and fat synthesizer flights) is very tasteful. In the more mellow parts with twanging acoustic guitar and good vocals Barock Project reminds me of Angelo Branduardi. In the more symphonic rock interludes with omnipresent vintage keyboards I notice strong elements of Dutch pride Trace like in the long Premonizione and in the excellent final track Un Altro Mondo (beautiful conclusion with compelling guitar work and lush keyboards). If you like Italian progrock, this is an album to check out!

 

 

                After 7 years, more than 1200 reviews and many threads and posts on the Forum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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