The Italian Prog Appreciation den

Happy this one is mentioned; actually almost everything on Fading, the Altrock sublabel devoted to more lyrical, pastoral, in a word classic sound of prog is great. But this one truly sounds like what PFM should sounds like nowadays. I agree for the new Acqua Fragile as well. Bernardo Lanzetti's voice may be an acquired taste but here is a rare case of a comeback which sounds to me better than the 70's originals.

And in that kind of inspiration, pastoral folk RPI, i love Reverie's "Gnos Furlanis Il Timp Dal Sium".

Managed to find a site and listen to this band..  Great band.  Still a hard album to get..

Well, i'm a happy french canadian now living in Paris, France. True that continental Europe is the right place to be to such a find... So a mention to a superb book / record store, Gibert Joseph. They offer both new and second hand products, and have a pretty interesting prog section. It just happens that nearly all Altrock and small independant labels from Italy (and beyond) are shown, at least in one copy. Then it's up to you to be "aware" because as soon as one buy a copy, it's gone forever... But small RPI labels'ones are exactly what i won't pass over! For now these are the kind of record you DON'T FIND on the Amazon's and Price minister's of this world. So as one has mentioned , any other way at the end would be the label site. Thank's for the attention and replies.

You're right in a sense, and especially with LP's; the're up and coming only. And the prog section is in a constant state of flux...At least it does exist! As long as you're branched to such this site, you'll find any physical store not up to par anyway. 

But as you seem to do like me (i'm a booksalesman working within 10 minutes walking and visit it usually 3 day's a week by lunchtime, keeping the 2 other days to Boulimier not far (this coming to an end though because the selection i'snt following suit...), you know what i mean; the thing i like actually: they've brought back the jazz section besides , while it was on a different street number for two years now; the pop rock , alternative and techno electro provide much pleasure too as i'm not limited to prog but say, enjoy any "intelligent" music.  And the thing i hate: that many , including the store director, think that Metal/Hard/Doom is a fit to prog. As you have one salesman who knows everything, others would have in public listening mostly "cookie monsters"... Which i truly hate ! Dream theaters of this world "sors de ce corps" please, that is my moto... Actually the second employee is a strange case. Himself a musician, as soon as he takes charge we can't hear anything other than is own band's record. Not bad actually a kind of modern neo prog with a nice female vocalist. But once this is played, we're up for heavy metal throat singing contest...

At the end i'm simply glad Gibert does exist, even if there are signs that not all is going fine for them.

Here's a gem I listened to recently that I hadn't heard for a while. I linked to the artist page for a couple YouTube videos.

A few that come to mind that didn't get official releases that you might find on these labels:

Mario Barbaja - Megh

Assemblea Musicale Teatrale

Ballettirosadimacchia (legend has it this was a Japanese band posing as Italians)

I Califfi (first album)

Canzionere di Lazio

And especially... 

But hey, if Lapera, Messaggio 73, and Armando Piazza can get nice BTF reissues, we can still hope!

 

There is still  tons of great other bands. Try the following:

 

Jumbo

Nuova Idea

Arti & Mestieri

Procession

Pierrot Luniare