All Prog From Italy Appreciation Thread

Todd wrote: Todd wrote: I enjoy that one too.  I don't have the others, but I heard they're being redone.  Is that true? Sorry, referring to Hostsonaten's Springsongs.

Hm, umm.. I've been looking for good Italian prog bands for a couple of days now, and thought that you could probably help. I'd like stuff like, umm, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, more the Prog Metal / Heavy Prog -side, even though I've got nothing against other subgenres, either. I'd certainly be thankful for help. No problem if the language is Italian either, I think.

And if you've got any info about Spanish/Latin/Mexican and such bands, no problem either. :D

not too bad... didn't take long to find...  posted this back in May

micky wrote: 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 - Ys this 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.

the 2nd installment of the mighty Mick's master memo mentioning many  Mediterranean makers of memorizing musicial melody....

staring it off... which an album I really don't care for... but the quality...no one can doubt that... this is the perfect album for the Genesis/f**king Camel  light in the loafers school of prog.

1. Locanda delle fate - Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Piu

said best by our friend Andrea C.

Andrea Cortese
Special Collaborator
Italian Prog Specialist Ahh! what a great album!

I was so surprised when I’ve listened to such an album for the first time! An outstanding musicianship, based on a twin guitar and twin keyboards line-up. Great vocals provided by the duo Ezio Verey and Alberto Gaviglio. What a pity the band arrived too late, on a declining progressive scene (1977)…they should have been great! It seems to me to hear to some refences of Genesis and Jethro Tull, a mixture I’ve always thought it would have been fantastic to reproduce! Locanda delle Fate did it, building up one of the most beautiful efforts in all the Italian prog-rock history! A melodic one, as the italian tradition, but brilliant, fresh and (somehow) powerful!

A Volte un’Istante di Quiete (Sometimes a moment of quiet) is an impressive instrumental opener with catchy melody, sweetness and great contribution from all the band. Pure piano and dreaming keyboards in a dominant position, both well interlaced!

The title track (Perhaps fireflies don’t love each other nevermore) is my favourite of the album: another interesting piano intro with a softer first part…then starts all its progressiveness 10 minutes long! They’ve tried to captivate audience with the delicacy of their well refine lyrics.

Profumo di Colla Bianca (white glue’s parfume) is more melodic and introvert than the previous one. But doesn’t lack in mordant!

Cercando un Nuovo Confine (Searching for a new border) is an intense soft one with some highlights of poetry! “…You’ve remained here just a moment, silently watching… and the stars will love you without asking who you are…”.

Sogno di Estunno (Estunno’s Dream) is a great highlight of the album, soft and powerful at the same time (as all the album indeed!) with some references from Jethro Tull: “…it’s strange, you know, the summer with thousands of colours but I cannot see them!...”.

Non Chiudere a Chiave le Stelle (Do not key-locked the stars) is another astonishing soft piece, shorter than all the previous (it was the album’ single published in 1977).

Vendesi Saggezza (Wisdom On Sale) is the album closer: 9,30 mns of pure great melodic prog: “…I wonder if when the rope will press my neck, mouth wouldn’t cry…”.

“New York” is a bonus tracks of the omonimous single released in 1977. You can find it on the 1994 digitally remastered cd! This one has good and polite melody, but it’s not at the same level of the previous stunning pieces!

This album is great, I recommend to all you out there, Italian-prog-lovers!

Kudos Mick

3.  (like anyone is surprised... well...maybe that this wasn't #1)



simply intoxicating.. hypnotic... incredible... read the reviews... it isn't just me.

it really is a great album....  I've done my bit to try to spread the word.. honestly...  haven't failed once with a recommend on this.  The more Raff has heard it living with me.. the more she has come to love it.  With others it was love at first listen.   

ooohh.... I do love Clic as well... but then again... I love them all.. and that says enough doesn't it 

amen brother Mandy...they all do... btw  you rule ...

Mandrakeroot wrote: Battiato is man of mad music ...   ...Dik Dik is the band of good music !!!