The Italian Prog Appreciation den |
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Alberto Muñoz
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 26 2006 Location: Mexico Status: Offline Points: 3577 |
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Thanks! i like them a lot in fact so i will working on them ASAP. Hope that you write also your reviews to read them. |
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Guldbamsen
Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: January 22 2009 Location: Magic Theatre Status: Offline Points: 23104 |
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^No need for rushing things Alberto - I certainly don´t. In other words no pressure if you know what I mean. Reviews should always feel like you want to write something about an album. If you do find the time though, I´d be very interested in reading them
I hope I´ll be able to write some reviews in the near future as well. Cheers from Denmark.
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams |
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Finnforest
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 03 2007 Location: The Heartland Status: Offline Points: 16914 |
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Another good review, dude
Pollution Franco Battiato Rock Progressivo Italiano Review by Guldbamsen A musical dreamEver sat in the garden watching the myriads of tiny lifeforms crawling around - creating a fascinating living natural floor before your eyes? In many ways this image corresponds very well with the sounds of Franco Battiato´s first 4 albums. In my review for Fetus, his debut, I described a distinctive larval feel there was to him, and as you´d probably expect by now - I should say something along the lines of a grand metamorphosis - transforming this slithering cocoon into a magnificent butterfly. Alas no - there is a vast and unfathomable beauty to my main man Franco, but comparing him to the effortless flights of a butterfly is like comparing the Dalai Lhama to Angela Merkel. No - Battiato retains his highly original style, but on Pollution he elaborates on it, perfects it - and in a way that you will most likely feel. -As if you were indeed fusing with these incredible tunes from the undergrowth. Like a deeply schizophrenic person, this album starts out completely confused with spoken Italian phrases accompanied by a symphony orchestra playing a waltz - for then to explode into a barking pre-punk guitar riff with a disoriented psychedelic organ rambling away. I love his style, and to explain why is beyond my powers - it´s a form of intrinsic musicality that emanates from Franco, which makes this music worthwhile, and to put it mildly, if I´d read anybody writing about a piece of music like I just did - I would think it was bunkers and weird for weird´s sake. But it´s not - there is always focus on musical journeys with this guy, and that is what makes him so brilliant. It´s like walking drunk through a maze with only a mere lighter as illumination. You will have to tread through these waters alone - making up your own mental images from behind your eyelids. Take Areknames for instance. You have the larval VCS3 pounding along sounding like it´s sliding down the walls (sometimes he plays that thing like others pour paint over surfaces), a nervous almost doo-wop sounding choir made up of 3 or 4 different Battiatos - each with a slightly altering vibe singing Aaaa Aaaa Aaaareknames, - and a psychedelic guitar that at times pops in to point the way - giving off what just might be the actual melody. In between all these things, you´ll also be introduced to the alarming sirens of an ambulance conveyed through the synths... Again, talking about this guy´s music is truly like dancing about architecture. The adventure trudges along on Beta, which starts out like a cutoff dream. Voices through a mist - yelling in a language you don´t understand - and then like a white unicorn emerging from the haze - the drums starts banging away - still sleepy from the dream, together with a raw piano strumming naive one fingered melodies. What really gets this track going though, is the vocal choir that suddenly breaks through this dreamy state - and what initially sounds like a teenage boy singing da da da - quickly turns into an image of a long lost merman serenading beneath the seas luring innocent little girls into the water. Once pulled underneath the water´s surface - one faces the enormous kelp forests swaying and dancing to the gentle sounds of Plancton. A song with a name so befitting that it´s uncanny. You feel guided in between giant snakes of seaweed bobbing along to the current of an undergrowth synthesizer, which at this point of the record now is deeply embedded in your head. A Laser gun in sounds from within. When Franco finally starts singing, it sounds so apt and true. His trembling voice is beautiful, and the way he uses it on Plancton is so fragile, that I wouldn´t be surprised if he was weeping in the studio at the time of recording. The title track kind of sums up all the different pieces here in a powerful medley, that sweeps trough everything spanning from acoustic guitars with Battiato´s vocals evoking the debut´s folky elements, - a blistering guitar solo that splits up in two and starts talking to each other, and an inhuman moog solo which mid song slices its way into the song - starting a wild rampage of thundering drums and a deep bellowing bass. The track ends on a very delicate and fragile note, and you wonder if you´d just imagined the wilderness preceding it. Finally you are escorted kindly to the door by hazy mumbling synths - occasionally burping electronic bubbles. A tormented soul yearns and cries in the back as the soundscapes intensify, and you exhale with vigor and take in what most likely ranks among Franco Battiato´s greatest achievements. Edited by Finnforest - August 24 2011 at 21:47 |
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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer Joined: August 27 2006 Location: The Beach Status: Offline Points: 13567 |
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You have a wonderful way with words Guld. And i agree that's a great album.
I've been spending quite a bit of time with STANDARTE's three albums and while i seem to be in the minority by being a big fan i guess i'm just a sucker for mellotron and hammond overkill.
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"The wind is slowly tearing her apart"
"Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
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Guldbamsen
Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: January 22 2009 Location: Magic Theatre Status: Offline Points: 23104 |
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Thanks a lot you guys!
It´s my favorite Battiato album up until now. And yeah - another 5 star review from me, but I thought I´d go out swinging before my studies start here next week (will be philosophy instead of PD though, as it seems my University is a bit confused...). It will probably be some time before my next review, and I just felt like writing about this wonderful record. Been listening to Pollution intently the past year, and it only seems to get better with every spin
John: I haven´t heard of Standarte, but mellotron and hammond overkill certainly intrigues me! Hey Jim - I just realized you incorporated the word Dream into your title of your review as well. I really like that review - and I too see those parallels to early Pink Floyd Edited by Guldbamsen - August 25 2011 at 06:41 |
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams |
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Todd
Special Collaborator RPI / Heavy Prog Team Joined: December 19 2007 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 3472 |
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John, I'd be interested to hear which albums you moved from 4 to 5.
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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer Joined: August 27 2006 Location: The Beach Status: Offline Points: 13567 |
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I will keep you posted Todd. I'm actually going through Rio/Avant/Zeuhl, Krautrock/Psychedelic and RPI right now. I was really expecting to drop at least one of the three STANDARTE cds to 3 stars but i love that stuff. Looking forward to getting to some of these RPI classics,it's been a while.
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"The wind is slowly tearing her apart"
"Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
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Finnforest
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 03 2007 Location: The Heartland Status: Offline Points: 16914 |
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Let me just say, if you enjoy Areknames, or can envision VDGG crossed with Jacula, you might wish to check out the Goad album I just reviewed "Masquerade."
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Alberto Muñoz
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 26 2006 Location: Mexico Status: Offline Points: 3577 |
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Agree with you all that you say. Also Cheers! |
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Guldbamsen
Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: January 22 2009 Location: Magic Theatre Status: Offline Points: 23104 |
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I just read that Jim - you really got me excited. Anything trying to cross Jacula with Van Damme Generator deserves a listen And as always a very fine and well-written review from you, but still pushing the buttons: "The moods are powerful and thundering, occasionally contrasted with eerie softer sections which just make the tracks pop with intrigue. In these sections you will experience sumptuous solo string performance, flute, and acoustic guitar----even a classical solo interlude at one point. But the most important impression to convey is the sense of unease and imbalance foisted on the listener as this unfolds like a tale from a dusty old magician's book. The music's structure in these weird sections are unpredictable and throw you off base, they make you feel odd somehow. True haunting mood music, I love it! Several pieces are long enough to allow some great instrumental stretching. Some listeners are going to find this work an unstructured mess while others (like me) are going to love the strange magic and feeling of being lost in the woods. The two part "To Helen" may be my favorite, featuring spirited guitar leads challenged by violin accompaniment, it then spirals into a strange place with descending piano lines behind the bold string performance. The five part title suite closes the album with a hearty epic feel and charms. I really enjoy these kinds of intimate projects which sound so different from much of what is out there these days. You can tell these guys are still in it for the love of good music." Great stuff buddy And a big shout-out to Chris for a fantastic Ocean review - that was a real treat!!!
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams |
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Nightfly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: August 01 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3659 |
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Nice review Jim. I hadn't even heard of this band until you mentioned them above but it does sound my kind of stuff. I'm deffinitely going to check them out. Masquerade Goad Eclectic Prog Review by Finnforest Strange, windy, and unsettled....
Goad is a project over 30 years old who have joined forces with the illustrious Black Widow Records. Led by Florence based brothers Gianni and Maurilio Rossi the band has numerous releases. While this is the first album I've heard by Goad I have a distinct gut feeling "Masquerade" is a special one, it feels like a band reborn rather than a band at the end of a long road. The most obvious influence to me is Van Der Graaf Generator though there are also notes of Crimson and darker heavy rock and prog-rock bands. The band is very much in step with another well known band of Italian VDGG devotees, their label mates in the superb Areknames. I actually prefer Goad to Areknames a little bit though, while still dense there is more contrasting space here. Other references that came to mind include Hero, Procol Harum, sometimes even Jacula for the dark organ atmospheres. At 77 minutes "Masquerade" is a long and chilling journey which some will say could use editing, but those who enjoy it will not want it to end. Driving heavy guitars and bass, chunky, lumbering and distorted are featured with all manner of dark keyboard textures, saxophone, and larger than life vocals. The moods are powerful and thundering, occasionally contrasted with eerie softer sections which just make the tracks pop with intrigue. In these sections you will experience sumptuous solo string performance, flute, and acoustic guitar----even a classical solo interlude at one point. But the most important impression to convey is the sense of unease and imbalance foisted on the listener as this unfolds like a tale from a dusty old magician's book. The music's structure in these weird sections are unpredictable and throw you off base, they make you feel odd somehow. True haunting mood music, I love it! Several pieces are long enough to allow some great instrumental stretching. Some listeners are going to find this work an unstructured mess while others (like me) are going to love the strange magic and feeling of being lost in the woods. The two part "To Helen" may be my favorite, featuring spirited guitar leads challenged by violin accompaniment, it then spirals into a strange place with descending piano lines behind the bold string performance. The five part title suite closes the album with a hearty epic feel and charms. I really enjoy these kinds of intimate projects which sound so different from much of what is out there these days. You can tell these guys are still in it for the love of good music. "Masquerade" is going to thrill lovers of the dark, turbulent prog-rock that Black Widow specializes in. The only thing that would have made it better for me personally would have been Italian vocals. But I'll spare you that rant this time. Don't miss Goad if you enjoy Areknames or Jacula/Rex, though Goad are not as overtly dark as the latter. Italy is having yet another great year of releases! 3 1/2 stars. |
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Todd
Special Collaborator RPI / Heavy Prog Team Joined: December 19 2007 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 3472 |
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Another great review, Jim. By the way, have you heard Goad's album "The Wood"? I bought it back during that Mellow sale. It's pretty good--I was wondering how it compares with "Masquerade." Also, what is the packaging like for the CD?
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seventhsojourn
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 11 2009 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 4006 |
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Many thanks for your kind comments about Ocean, David. Sorry to hear you won't be reviewing for a while but hopefully we'll still see you around the forum. Good luck with your philosophy studies.
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Finnforest
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 03 2007 Location: The Heartland Status: Offline Points: 16914 |
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Many thanks guys, I'm trying to make my reviews a bit more succinct. Short intro, one good beefy paragraph on trying to nail down the sound in a heartfelt fashion, and a short outro summation. In the past I've rambled a bit too much I think.
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Guldbamsen
Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: January 22 2009 Location: Magic Theatre Status: Offline Points: 23104 |
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^No such thing! I love your ramblings JIm...
In fact I think the times we do get close to describing the music - we are rambling like The Allman Brothers.
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams |
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Guldbamsen
Special Collaborator Retired Admin Joined: January 22 2009 Location: Magic Theatre Status: Offline Points: 23104 |
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Thank you my friend. Let´s just see how well I correspond to an intellectual environment again... I should be able to visit the forum quite frequently methinks. Regarding the reviewing scene - there´ll be a dip but then again I´ve never been the avid writer here... But it will probably be a 5 star album that I return with
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams |
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hellogoodbye
Forum Senior Member VIP member Joined: August 29 2011 Location: Troy Status: Offline Points: 7251 |
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Hello everyone. First, my apologies. I’m a frog. My english is
terrible. So I’m just here to say hello... and goodbye. I’m not in prog, not more than in classical,
pop, rock, jazz, soundtrack or brazilian stuffs. A year ago, looking for new music, I started to
listen to RPI albums of the seventies. Gosh ! What a revelation ! What an elevation ! I didn’t expect this. Not
at all. “Those painters, those sculptors ... just
as in Renaissance Italy.” BMS, PFM, Le Orme, QVL, Stefano Testa, Panna Fedda, Cervello, Battiato,
Odissea, Samadhi, Delirium, Alusa Fallax, I Giganti ... and so many others. As in a Gustav Mahler’s symphony, I was not
only listenning with my ears, but with my eyes. Both were wide open. It was a
miracle, or maybe not. These sounds, shapes and colors were waiting for me. I
was just looking in another direction. So thanks to you, Jim, Andrea and everyone for the great help.
Reading you was very important these last twelve months. And I’m sure there’s
many more to come. Rencently I’ve heard samples from albums by La Assemblea
Musicale Teatrale, Gramigna or Barabba. They sound terrific and I can’t wait
for CD’s reissues and your reviews. Before I shut my mouth, I would like to give
you some titles of albums with a RPI
flavour : These Trails . These Trails (1974). A folk band
from Hawai. Very strange. Great accoustic guitar and synths. Fantastic vocal
harmonies. Melody Nelson : Serge Gainsbourg (1968). A true
prog album and the most terrific violins arrangements you will hear in your
life. Eden’s Island. Eden Ahbez (1960). The composer
of Nature Boy. Simplicity and beauty. Not a disc for the desert island. The
desert island itself. Goodbye ... and hello. Pierre. |
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seventhsojourn
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 11 2009 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 4006 |
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Great first post, Pierre, but please don't shut your mouth... we appreciate nice suggestions! ''The desert island itself''
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stefanotesta
Forum Newbie Joined: August 25 2009 Location: porretta, Italy Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Thank you very much, Pierre! Your words make me happy, and I understand how nice it is to see your work appreciated by people so far away!
I’m a frog. My english is terrible
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Finnforest
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 03 2007 Location: The Heartland Status: Offline Points: 16914 |
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Grazie Pierre for your kind words, and welcome to the Den. Glad you are getting some good recommendations here.
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