The Italian Prog Appreciation den

proggman wrote: Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: Never too late to start, Proggman! Why don't you tell us which ones you've been enjoying, and I'm sure some of us Italian Den regulars can offer some more suggestions for you to try? Hello again sorry for the late reply. I was busy listening to music. The only italian bands that I have heard so far are Premiata Forneria Marconi, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and Le Orme. I like PFM the most of those, so some suggestions in that direction would be nice.

Good call Todd!

Proggman, perhaps look into the following, partly based on Todd's suggestions, and some on some favourites of mine:

Quella Vecchia Loccanda - only two albums, the self-titled and `Il Tempo Della Gioia'

Celeste - `Principe di un Giorno'

Locanda Delle Fate - `Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Più'

Museo Rosenbach - `Zarathustra'

Goblin - `Roller'

I'll think of some more later on.

Should have mentioned, Proggman, and Jim/AEP, you might also like this modern one:

Progenesi - Ulisse: L'Alfiere Nero

It's an instrumental album, but you'll find quite a lot of similarities to PFM, especially during the first and last tracks. Just give this Youtube clip a try and you'll pick that influence up instantly!



A damn fine album, one of many modern Italian releases this year that have been of a great standard.

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: progbethyname wrote: Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: Yep, knockout album, Nick! Really good to play LOUD!! If you haven't already heard them, you might also like the Japanese all-girl trio (well, most of their early albums they play as a trio) Ars Nova, they play the same kind of bombastic classical gothic organ overload style like Three Monks! LOUD? What's that? I can't hear you!!! Oh brother you couldn't more right on that. The album reminds me of listening to classic Motets. Just love it. I like Toccata Neogothica #1 the best so far but I admit I've gotta spin this album many more times to get a concrete opinion on just how I feel about it. So far...so good though, my friend. I will also check out Ars Nova. Have not heard of them, so already I'm intrigued. Thanks man. Nick, I just got the new Three Monks album `The Legend and the Holy Circle' (Ironically, there is only TWO members left in the band now, which is sure to make that name confusing! ), so I've put it in the car and I'll give it a listen today. Actually, probably on the way home at 11pm - the night time is the right time for that sort of music! Now, I'm kind of cheating here, because that female Ars Nova band are Japanese, so I'll link away from this Italian thread, but if you like what you heard with Three Monks, and I think you dig stuff like ELP, then you should enjoy this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5vCoyZGCRw Actually, that clip of them sounds better than one of the actual DVD's I bought of them. If you like them, let us know and I'll recommend which albums to look into.

Well...hello kitty! My my. That is quite a team of Women, but I can't tell if the drummer is a man or a woman. Lol in any case it makes no difference. They play well and ARS NOVA (arse..he hee) are dominated with ELP influences and sadly my sound tastes never gelled with ELP, although I do really like Emerson and he for me is the most redeeming feature in the band. Love his modular moog on the new Aryeon Album too. :)
All in all, I don't love the NOVA but can appreciate the level of skill they have. Also, they dress well. Lol.

As for three monks...well now 2 monks, let me know how you like their latest.
Thank you again for the link. :)

Sorry Nick, thought you were an ELP fan too! You mentioned you'd liked the first Three Monks albums, so I assumed you dug ELP because it's along the same sort of lines in places?

Tom, did you get the first Three Monks album from Syn-phonic, or were you planning on in an upcoming order? I think you'd go mad for it!

Tom Ozric wrote: ^ Looks like another album to add to the list. I vaguely recall you mentioning it before my last batch......??

Possibly! It's from the Black Widow shop, lots of intense organ crunching, like a slightly more gothic ELP, perhaps like Goblin, Zoltan and Ars Nova, with lots of classical bombast and eerie atmospheres! All instrumental as well.

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: Should have mentioned, Proggman, and Jim/AEP, you might also like this modern one: Progenesi - Ulisse: L'Alfiere Nero It's an instrumental album, but you'll find quite a lot of similarities to PFM, especially during the first and last tracks. Just give this Youtube clip a try and you'll pick that influence up instantly! A damn fine album, one of many modern Italian releases this year that have been of a great standard.

Yes this was fantastic, will probably be one of my favorites from this year.

Hi Pierre! I'm no help, I have the reissued vinyl LP copy, sorry!

Hopefully Jim, Todd or one of the others can come to your rescue!

Thank you very much, Todd. 

There will be a Osanna double DVD featuring one Disc of 70s material
out at the end of this month