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.
Duello Madre
E
E.A.Poe : Generazione (Vinyl Magic,Storia di Sempre)****
One of these items which is perfect in its quality, but the music works darker in comparing with the top items. People who are curious for this item I would suggest them to listen before that the lighter first album of Pierrot Lunaire for instance.
(Einede : don't go for this weak prog item with flute.
Engel der Vernichtung /Angeli in Polvere
*** (PiDi Rec., rec.1989) Interesting conceptual soft Prog/alternative item with some dark 80's, a bit more minimal and chamber music fusing classical arrangements, and some soft acoustic alternative and prog pop arrangements with appealing vocal narrations and singing.
Eris Pluvia
Errata Corridge : Siegfried..(Vinyl Magic,1976)****
An accoustic symhonic work (like first Genesis record) The follow up is less interesting.
Etna Goblin related band from which I don't know anything
F
La Famiglia degli Ortega
Fede Speranza Carita Don't know anything about this '69 item.
Festa Mobile
Si Wan Rec. Festa Mobile : Diario di Viaggio (IT,1973)****
Often fast piano, harpsichord ?, little bit mellotron or high keyboard, bass and guitar, harmonious singing, voice, drums. Song oriented.
Finesterre
New group in old style. Very profesional and convincing. Some Nederbeat influences too.
Flea (on the Honey)
"Flea on the Honey" (1971)*° is more poprock and really not so good any more when you expect progressive rock.The Second album, under the name Flea, "Topi o Uomini" (1972)**°, where they found their style, is a good album in hard rock style.
FLK Ludos Sun (2000)*** modern folkrock with medieval and contemporary ethnic folk touches in a style that could interest progressive folk music lovers too.Webpage : http://www.cnimusic.it/suning.htm
Formula 3
Fabio Frizzi solo work from Goblin member
DagoredFabio Frizzi : L'Aldila'.. / The Beyond (I,1981)***°
Very good Goblin's solo work. One of the better Goblin related items.
G
Garybaldi I heard this once in 70's rock style, but didn't like it that much at first hearing
Genfuoco
Mellow Rec.Genfuoco : Dentro l'invisible (IT,1979)*°
Prog with symphonic, prog, fusion, prog pop and relaxed jazz influences and some acoustic parts. Really ok, but not incredible. Not easy to get a grip upon because unlike other Italian prog it has easy rather soft moody fusion in it with the styles described.
I Giganti
Folk play about a giant into a musical concept. (I do have both versions too and played the combined version once)****
Gigi Pascal
Kaliphonia Rec.Gigi Pascal : debut (IT,1970?)*
Like Genfuoco an Italian prog with a mixture of styles in songs, with lots of Hammond organ passages. There are too many dated passages like the drum solos.
Giro Strano
Mellow Rec.Il Giro Strano : La divinia commedia (1973)****
Improvised symphonic progressive songs with nice driven and sometimes experimental and rhythmic hammond organ, heavy and emotional (almost hard rock) vocals,drums,el. guitar,el. bass, some sax and heavy flute, so also with jazz rock improvisations on first two tracks. Followed by a heavy prog rock song, not in best recording quality, but nice for experimental flute use on heavy music and jazz breaks/heavyrock rhythms. The track "La Divinia comedia" recorded in 1972 is very heavy and experimental again. Also last track contains a few more experimental passages, all these are more adventurous than I'm used to hear in Italian progressive. This track is mostly very heavy psych rock. Unless recording quality of some tracks this is weird. Singer sadly died in 1983. For the adventurous ears of people who dig 70's prog, lovers open to hammond organ experimenting, heavy flute prog,...
Gleemen
CGDGleemen (1970)***
Good (hard) progrock album.
Goblin :
I did a radio program about Goblin once. More information will be added here later.
Suspiria (*****) musically is one of their strongest most powerful works. Profundo Rosso (****°) is intriguing too. Patrick (****) is the most pleasant starter. Most of their progressive music is made for horror movies.
Gramigna
Ultima SpiaggiaGramigna : Gran Disordine Sotto Il Cielo (It,1977)***'
Conceptual album that works a bit like a rock opera.
Grupo 2001
H
Hero
Pan Hero (I,1974)***°
Good prog abum slightly like Gnidrolog.
I
Ibis
J
Jacula :
Jacula : In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum (IT,1966-1969)****°
Much more quiet and enjoyable than two other Jacula albums. Church organ, piano, heavy (metal in 1969 !) electric bass guitar, special key effects, some female nana singing and bass narrative initiating voice. Jacula is a weird group lead by Bartocetti, who owned a castle with organ. There he made his musical compositions inspired by spiritual sceances. Altough made in 1969 this sounds an end 90's product. Still unique in its kind.
Mellow Rec.Jacula : Tardo Pede in Magiam Versus (IT,1974)*****
Heavy church organ. Spiritual séance to the dark side. Heavy church organ, with in one track suddenly electric bass and emotional powerful female vocals. A relaxing waltz in 70's nanana style, an incredibly sad story sung in bad English as if a foreign woman gives her last expression a darkest moment, accompanied by violin and howling wind.One of my all time favorites.
Mellow Rec.Jacula : Anno Demoni (IT.,1969-1978)***°°
Not for sensitive listeners ! Synths, church organ, el.bass, drums, percussion, heavy narrative voice.
J.E.T.
well composed hard progressive rock Fede speranza carità (1972)****
Jumbo Vietato at minori di 18 anni ? ****° Very good album with lots of ideas. With the help of Battiato.
The latest album by Jumbo is called "Passing By 1991-2001" ** which is Gilmour like with guitar composed soft prog
I will make a detailed review with pictures of both albums at next Jumbo page
K
L
Latte e Miele Papillon (1973)***°
ELP inspired, some songs and some tracks classical mix with rhythm changes only an Italian group can bring so perfectly and clean.
Libra
Pickup RecordsLibra : Schock (I,1977)**°
Close to usual movie 70's rock music ; goes in the direction of Goblin. A few fragments are more original as usual. Libra's drummer was also Goblin's drummer at the same time. The other three albums are different.
The first two LP's are really nice 70's progpop albums. "Libra" (1975)**** has many funky play tracks, a soft prog track & a few acoustic passages. It is entirely different as the rest of this list and does not sound so typical "Italian", but it's a great album. "Musica & Parole" (1975)***° starts progressive, with funky elements, and fantastic guitar & fast bass in first track. Second track has beside nice funky/jazz(fusion)rock prog improvisations also an acoustic & song passage. Third track is good enough funky. Further there's one good enough pop progsong, two jazzfusionprog instrumentals.
Locande Della Fate
PolygramLocanda Delle Fate : Forse le Lucciole non si amano più (IT,1977)***°
Good composed melodic symphonic music (mostly el.keyboards, lots of piano,drums, el.guitar, and an el.bass somewhat on background, some singing, some flute), in (slightly modernised and self asured) follow up style
of PFM,... Perfectly balanced CD.
Emilio Locurcio : L'eliogabalo (Akarma Rec.,1977)***
Great pop opera which is more like a rock theatre piece. Convincing voice and concept. Beautifully reissued by Akarma Records on LP. Not essential for prog listeners who,dunderstand a word Italian but even for those I can tell you it is very good.
M
Malibran
Metamorfosi
...e fu il sesto giorno (1972)***° is a very good progpop album, with some religious elements too which might disturb a bit. "Inferno" (1973)****° is much better, with much more keyboards & more progressive. Amongst the better prog albums.
Mia Martina
Mo.Do.
Good consistent prog album, but not amongst the most essential.
Murple
Mellow Rec.Murple : Io Sono Murple (IT,1974)****
2 tracks of 18 minutes with lots of keyboards. Nicely balanced. It's a very good example of Italian prog, without being outstanding. I like the original way the cd ends (at the last minute) with cello and guitar.
Museo Rosenbach : Also Sprach "Zarathustra" (BMG,1973)****
Athough it is clear this is high quality perfection it took me some time because I couldn't pick out individual tracks for the radio program. 70's prog, with organ,..
N
New Trolls :
Concerto Grosso per I new Trolls (Crime,1979)***°° Concerto Grosso n°2 (Crime,1980)*°°
Orchestra and rock band combined. This first album is much more powerful as their second. This area of combining the classical orchestra and rock band could fail easilly too or becomming a bit patchy. The second album of them is going that direction a bit. I have an album by Lalo Chifrin which uses the same odd fusion but still pleasant. At first it was the UK group Nice combing the two areas properly. (The way ELP became sometimes a more intellectual effort it seems that such less spontanoous from the heart music like theirs is less appreciated now compairing with those days ; and me too I can understand why). I wonder how New Trolls evolved after this.
with also links to other sites.
Novalia 10 ...anni in una notte (2000)**° live album ; good but not fantastic. Modern folkrock with progressive rock touches / combinations Original. Arkeo (1999)***/** better, enjoyable at side A, with nice modern arrangements, but with some electro pop.additions at side B.
Nuova Idea
Mellow Rec.Nuova Idea : Clowns (IT,1973)***'
Fine symphonic music with mostly (hard rock like) "screaming" vocals.
O
I did a radio program about them once. "Introspezione"***** or "Donella del Monaco" has all kinds of classical influences including contempory classic. Beautiful operatic voice which I like very much. But I heared some people not liking operatic voices in prog music at all. The second album (Lord Cromwell****') is more difficult, almost avant garde but contempory and old classical music inspired too. It takes time to fully appreciate this album but it's worth to give it that time.
"Strata"**** has beautiful vocal passages, some difficult piano pieces but very interesting too !
Seperate webpage with interview with Donella Del Monaco, extra information about Opus Avantra, most beautiful covers at next page
I perticularly like "Felona E Serona" ***°° & "Uomo di Pezza" ***° "L'aurora"** as outtakes is from the same period).I think most items differ in style. Voice of singer is very pleasant,warm and soft. The style is more pastoral or softer compared to most symphonic and therefore recommended to give it a listen.
Osanna
Vinyl Magic Osanna : Palepoli (IT,197?)*****
More experimental open composition with (very) heavy/soft contrasts, based upon songs. Some mellotron on soft passages. Very good. Very adventurous. Not for beginners.
Vinyl Magic Osanna : L'uomo (IT,197?)***°
Heavy prog rock. Thought over contrasts, compositions. Some more flute now.
Vinyl Magic Osanna : Colonna Sonora...(IT,197?)***°
Mostly heavy prog rock with Tull like flute, nice combination of full orchestra orchestrations.
