ITALIAN PROGRESSIVE MUSIC page 2
Specific groups I played in "Psyche van het Folk" on Radio Centraal, Antwerpen,
With added links. Much more links and groups to come soon ! Only groups which are interesting
are being added. No neo-prog here, but a few new prog groups.
(Gradings used :
***** not to miss, classic, in its genre is no better item than this one, completely unique
**** extremely good but matter of taste
*** very good
** good
* ok
° upgrade for some reasons
' possibly even better
(dark green names are groups I'm still looking to hear their recordings)
A
Albergo Intergallatico Spaziale
Odd, dark item. Not perticularly recommended (**), but possibly interesting for some collectors. A few nice tracks, like one with etheral female vocals.
Alphataurus (Vinyl Magic,1973)****'
Alusa Fallax : Intorno Alla Mia Cattiva Educazione (1974)***°
Mellow Rec. Alusa Fallax (IT,197?)****°
Wonderful symphonic with some keyboards and arrangements and a prog rock band, song orientated, but with almost classical compostion layered. All tracks flow in each other as almost one track. Difficult to pick out tracks. Possibly a classic.
According to Mandmusic : "Alusa Fallax is classic seventies Italian prog. They feature extensive use of the flute in music that has all the emotions and grandiose arrangements found in classic Italian prog. Some references could include PFM and Museo Rosenbach."
Analogy
First record is good (***°). Second, the Suite is very good (*****) and with longer composition. Somewhat like Circus 2000, or Julian's Treatment. The Suite was also released as bonus track with the first album and as 10'
Antonius Rex
After disbanding the occult prog group Jacula (see Jacula) Bartocetti formed the dark music group Antonius rex. "Anno Demoni" has been reissued both under the name Jacula as Antonius Rex. His latest release is reviewed with lots of additional links at my following review page : http://progressive.homestead.com/prog3.html
Apoteosi (Mellow Rec.,1975)***
Nice Genesis styled group with female vocals.
Aqua Fragile
BMGAqua Fragile : Aqua Fragile (IT,1973)***
Singing very much like Peter Gabriel. Also the music has similarities with early Genesis (like heavier stuff on "Tresspass" but with better drummer) at first track. Similarities with heavy early PFM on third track, etc. Some of the tracks have a more relaxed kind of Genesis structure. And although the music is good that works a little bit tiresome to me.
Contempo Rec.Aqua Fragile : Mass Media Stars (IT,1974)**
Also this item is ok, but it becomes a very melodic kind of early Genesis, without much other musical ideas than being purely melodic symphonic music. The singing is more varied (with some Gentle Giant influences, and sometimes more theatrical, reminding me at a idiotic theatrical symphonic version of Pavlov's Dog). The album is not completely my cup of tea, but I can not call it second raid.
Area :
I did once a radio program about Area and Demetrio Stratos. More information will be added here later. Heavy Jazzrock and powerful mail voice. Demetrio has capacities to use ethno-psych elements in his voice, which I like a lot. I like "Arbeit Macht Frei" (1973)***** mostly. "Are(a)zione" (live-album) (1975)****° has tremendous singing too. "Caution Radiation Area" (1974)***°° is the group in a more progressive avant garde style. Not very accessiblebut highly original.
Aria Palea
A new Italian prog group. Did good covers of Camisasca songs for instance.
Arti & Mestieri :
B
Il Baletto di Bronzo
Si Wan Rec. Il Baletto Di Bronzo : Sirio 2222 (1971)***°
Si Wan Rec. Il Baletto Di Bronzo : Ys (Si Wan,1972) *****
Very heavy composing. Many many notes/minute composition power on Ys. First album is varied and very good too, but Ys has killer over the top passages.
Banco (del Mutuo Soccorso)
"Banco del Muoto Soccorso" (1972)***** ; "Io sono nato libero" (1973)**** ? "Darwin" (1973)***° "Banco" (1975)****
Powerful operatic vocals, very good keyboards & very good prog group dominate the beautiful and original music of BDMS and early Banco.
Il Baricentro
Both albums, Sconcentro, (1976)***° and Trusciant (1978)***° are very good albums in a jazz fusion progstyle.
Higly original adaptation of electronica with sound collage and songs at first three acclaimed albums. I did not hear his other albums.
Biglietto per l'inferno
good consistent sound
Buon Vecchio Charlie (Akarma Records,1970)***°
C
I Califfi (I heard it only once and did not find it so interesting then)
Calliope not sure if this group is interesting
Camisasca I like his first singer-songwriter album with experimental vocals, a prog band & Battiato on electronics. I did not hear his other works yet.
Campo di Marte (Mellow Records,1973)*****
Complex contrasts from classical music to heavy rock. One of the top albums of Italy with no doubt.
Capitolo 6
Capsium Red
Artis Rec.Capsicum Red : Appunti per un'idea fissa (IT,197?)*
A bit too typical 70's The Nice(/ELP) like symphonic. Not the most outstanding so somewhat dated in its interpretation of "Patetica" of Beethoven. In the same style I prefer the Late e Miele's version of it."Lo Spegnifuoco" is also a bit too The Nice like. The rest has potential without having developed much of a personal style. Fans of The Nice however could check this item.
Castello di Atlante
Vinyl MagicIl Castello di Atlante : Sono io Signore delle Terre a Nord (IT,1992)**°
Where the first track has much awful neo symphonic keyboard chords the rest of the CD is better. It becomes ok, until even very good. Where the keyboards are not there the music is much better. Luckily only the first tracks have this keyboard, so I think this is a very good album after all.
Celeste
"Principe di un giorno" (****°) is a beautiful pastoral symphonic work (with mellotron,..). "II" is less interesting.
Cervello
Si Wan Rec.Cervello : Melos (IT,197?)****°
Classic item of Italian only slightly symphonic and somewhat more heavy progressive.
Cherry Five
Circus 2000
Jefferson Airplaine inspired product with heavy vocals. First record short tracks, second longer even more progressive tracks. Both releases are essential (****° and *****). Also compairable to Analogy.
Citta Frontale
Fonit CentraCitta Frontale : El Tor (IT, 1975)***'
Symphonic (slightly jazz) fusion, within a certain song structure. Songs itself have mostly at first site a certain pop feeling for instance trough the few lalala's. Many moments proof very good musicianship, surely at second side.
Corte dei Miracoli
Grog Rec.Corte dei Miracoli (IT, 1976)*****
Wonderful symphonic songs with splendid instrumental architectural ideas in typical Italian style. Rest of the songs sounds a bit like Le Orme (Felona e Sorona period) with a more full instrumental use.
D
Dalton I don't know how this item is.
De de Lind : Io non so da dove vengo e none mai andro. Uomo e'il nome che mi han dato. (Polygram,1972) ****°
For lovers of Tull like flute this concept piece is recommended. Another favorite.
Dedalus I don't know how this item is.
Delirium
Dolce Aqua (1973)**** With Tull like flute, interesting very crafty symphonic rock with enough subtlty
Demetrio Stratos
(More links will be added later)
Demetrio Stratos jazz rock with Area is with a powerful rock voice, but in his solo works (except for one of them) he searched for but reached also the outer limit of experimental voice (including the technical limit of the human voice)(from throat singing and other ethnical achievements till much more mind expanding experiments). Metrodora****°as first experiment is interesting, but "Cantare La Voce*****is a masterpiece. "Recitarcantando"**** with violinist Lucio Fabbri is the most pleasant recording. It takes some tracks before their improvisation gets some structure, but then it flues beautifully.Demetrio recorded also with John Cage, some free jazz musicians. Unfortunatly he died extremely young (blood cancer) in the midst of his lifting carrier.
D.F.A. a new group that combines trance and sometimes prog organ,synths with a prog rock band in an improvisation style close to neo prog and fusion based upon melodic composing mostly.
Deus ex Machina
New Italian heavy jazzrock prog group with Stratos like vocals. I made a radio program about them once.I believe Gladium Caeli (most symphonic work ***°), De Republica (***) and Deus ex Machina (***) are the best starters. I like soft passages of cello/voice very much. Latest work has extra brass instruments.
More will be added soon.
Devil Doll
I once did a radio program about Devil Doll. Living musical theatre with the intensity of a horror movie, emotional, well composed almost traumatical stories by this lawyer. All his work is highly recommended. Most powerful in voice and concept is Sacrilegium ***** (with Slovenian orchestra and choir). Dies Irae is slightly different. The rest is similar in style.
