Modern Italian Prog Recommendations

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: H, I'm curious about that Eris Pluvia album, but definitely don't have it. But speaking of pastoral modern Italian albums, I'm sure you would have picked up that `Les Châteaux de la Loire' disc by Ellesmere, which features the bass player from Taproban? http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=50792 I've got it but not nearly listened to it enough yet. Very special though!

noni wrote: Just got recently the NUOVA ERA album - Return to the Castle. Great album..

Noni, would you believe I was literally just looking at that album on my shelf tonight! I'm currently rearranging my collection and getting everything into alphabetical order, and I looked at the CD of that and thought `I'm sure I haven't listened to this yet....'!

Will make the effort to do so shortly.

Yes!!! I knew there were some modern recs that I'd forgotten. I remember Lineatorica...or now that you've mentioned them, I do

Next modern recommendation:

Band: LINEATEORICA



Album: Lineateorica
Year: 2014

After several line-up changes and almost twenty years of honing their craft, 2014 finally saw Italian band Lineateorica properly enter the R.P.I scene with a promising 25 minute self-titled EP, and a fiery, varied and energetic little disc it was! Lineateorica can be placed alongside other Italian progressive acts such as Cervello, Procession, Rocky’s Filj and Osage Tribe, due to the fact that they recorded albums that do not use keyboards! This unusual characteristic means that their debut EP `Lineateorica’ placed more attention on contrasting acoustic and electric guitar passages with strong melodic song-writing and energetic vocals, as well as a focus on flute and confident drumming.

What makes the band and their disc so great is that they take recognizable elements of the classic RPI bands, but fuse it to a younger melodic rock sound, so this is hardly a lazy retro excursion!

Please take a listen to this clips, so much potential in this great band, and hopefully we get a whole length album from them in the near future!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjrWwu2E384&list=PLAehMd2H7neaTjQqLyLyXpZyE3b1s9ku_


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZwYqANDl1I&list=PLAehMd2H7neaTjQqLyLyXpZyE3b1s9ku_&index=2

The CD can still be purchased here, very inexpensive too and highly worthwhile!
https://lineateorica.bandcamp.com/releases

Prog Archives band page: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=8880
Prog Archives album page: http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=45435

Edited by Aussie-Byrd-Brother - July 17 2017 at 08:25

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: TheH wrote: Il Segno del Commando just released a limited (100) Live in the Studio album. I saw that, I would love one of those LP's, but it's only available at their concerts, so what chance do I have of snapping one up?! Hmmm, Italy is actually part of Australia, right?!

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: TheH wrote: Something new from the past:   Acqua Fragile are back (with Lanzetti!), looking forward to that (October) I'm assuming AF will be performing in English on this one again, H?

Next modern Italian prog recommendation:

Band: IL SEGNO DEL COMANDO:



Album: Il Segno del Comando
Year: 1997

Genova's Il Segno del Comando (The Sign of Command) take their name from a 1970's novel by Giussepe D'Agata and Italian TV series of the same title that dealt with occult matters, reincarnation and the supernatural. Formed in 1995 by musicians Mercy and Diego Banchero, the project came to the attention of Genova's own Black Widow Records, and with the addition of extra musicians, the 1997 debut self-titled album was recorded in two weeks on a shoestring budget.

The music is full of classical gothic atmosphere, spooky overwhelming arrangements, cinematic drama and eerie nightmare soundscapes that crawl under your skin. Complex lyrics based around a fascination of gothic literature and esoteric texts are a highlight, frequently contrasting the normality of everyday life with the mystery of the paranormal. The music is very organ driven, with plenty of use of Mellotron and analogue synths for an authentic vintage sound. The piano is frequently classical and theatrical based, bringing an important characteristic that many of the defining Italian bands featured. Folky acoustic guitar passages are reflective and thoughtful, while the grand electric solos can echo Antonio Bartoccetti (Antonius Rex/Jacula) and even CAMEL, heavy, but never enough to have the band confused for being a metal act. Lead vocalist Mercy has a deep, crooning, and intimidating delivery, and bassist Diego has a thick upfront Seventies prog sound that just dominates the album! Add in some psychedelic passages, modern electronic elements and a general wild, uninhibited and experimental approach to make the band truly stand out.

The band have offered three superb albums to date all up, with the second `Der Golem’ in 2002 adding a stronger touch of metal and a more lavish production, and the third in 2013 `Il Volto Verde’ introducing female vocals for a more prominent gothic sound, but the one that will likely be of the most interest to classic Italian prog fans is this self-titled debut, where the acid-rock guitar sound and rawer production harkens back to the vintage Italian prog acts.

Il Segno del Comando are for fans of the dark side of the Italian progressive scene such as Goblin, Abiogenesi and the above mentioned Antonius Rex and Jacula, as well as the works of international bands such as MY DYING BRIDE and MORTE MACABRE.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oywWFVk_-k

Prog Archives band page: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=8267
Prog Archives album page: http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=42167

Edited by Aussie-Byrd-Brother - July 13 2017 at 09:11

Something new from the past:

Edited by TheH - July 11 2017 at 15:50

Hmmm, it's actually been a few months since I've listened to it and I honestly don't recall a second of music on it (other than remembering that I thought it was lovely! ), but you're probably very correct about the Anthony Phillips comparison. Pretty sure that one even had a vinyl release?