Abiogenesi - Le Notte di Salem ($15.99)
Latest additions are highlighted in yellow. Quantities limited – if mailing your order, please specify alternates.
Abiogenesi - Le Notte di Salem ($15.99)Abiogenesi play very good Italian early-1970’s style symphonic progressive
featuring keys (primarily Hammond organ), flute, acoustic and electric guitar,
bass, drums, and Italian vocals. Le Notte di Salem (2000) is their 3rd album, which
features guests Gigi Venegoni (Venegoni & Co., Arti
e Mestieri), Marco Cimino (Arti e Mestieri), and Clive Jones (flute and sax
of the band Black Widow). This echoes the work of I Teoremi, Biglietto
per L’Inferno, Le Orme, and other classic Italian prog bands.
AdiB - Spinning
Like a Top ($14.99)This is the band Assolo di Bongo, who’ve decided to shorten their name. Their
2001 debut Primetime was a spirited romp of high-energy instrumental
prog rock. On their follow-up Spinning Like a Top (2006), they are still
an instrumental keys/guitar/bass/drums quartet but with guests on cello, sax,
trumpet, trombone, and percussion on some tracks. This album is even better. AdiB blend
a little fusion into their nimble
progressive rock. The music touches upon the complex fusion-prog of Deus Ex Machina
or DFA in spots, but AdiB are always more melodic and are invigorating rather
than fatiguing. Ultimately, the sax and brass are not that prominent, and this
is just a great instrumental prog album with sophisticated arrangements and
stellar playing, highlighted by the 11-minute title suite.
Agorà -
2 mini-LP ($19.99)Live in Montreux, from their 1975 performance at the well-known
festival in Switzerland, was actually Agorà’s debut album, followed by their
only studio album 2 in 1976. A six-man band, Agorà play progressive
jazz-rock in a style similar to Perigeo and Weather Report, with Fender Rhodes,
guitar, sax, bass, drums and percussion. Heavyweight gatefold mini-LP sleeves with 8-page
bilingual booklets.
Alluminogeni
- Geni Mutanti ($16.99)Alluminogeni is the reformation of the keyboard-oriented prog band Gli Alluminogeni who released the
album Scolopendra in 1972. Geni Mutanti (1993) consists of new
recordings while Green Grapes (1994) includes both unreleased old
tracks as well as new tracks. Green Grapes had been the name of the band before
changing it to Alluminogeni, so feel free to switch band and album name on the last title.
Apryl
- Alorconfusa ($14.99)
The 2002 debut by this Italian band is firmly in the 1970’s classic
progressive style, influenced both by the Italian 70’s bands as well as Genesis,
ELP, and Van der Graaf Generator. There are just four long tracks, each going
through numerous changes, with lots of instrumental passages. Some of it is
upbeat, but it is just as often melancholy. This is romantic and elegant
symphonic rock that should earn high marks from all fans of 70’s-style
progressive. Vocals in Italian.
Arcansiel -
Swimming in the Sand ($15.99)
Italian band Arcansiel released three albums between
1988-1994. This CD is subtitled The Best of Arcansiel 1988-2004, as the
band re-recorded their six favorite tracks in 2003. With a total playing time of
64-minutes, these are long tracks. The band capably blends the Marillion
influence with 1970’s Genesis and the Italian progressive tradition (PFM, Banco,
etc.), combining straightforward melodies and complex instrumental sequences.
The vocals are in English, they add violin, flute, and sax to the standard
symphonic rock lineup, and their music now has the excellent sound it deserves.
Areknamés - Love Hate Round Trip ($16.99)
Areknamés are a retro-sounding Italian prog band on the Black Widow label.
Their sound comes closest to Van der Graaf Generator, and as with most of the
music on the label, their self-titled 2002 debut is dark, murky, dreamy, gothic, and comes no
further forward than the early 1970’s. The vocals are in English, but it matters little since they are so buried in the
mix. Their 2nd, Love Hate Round Trip (2005, 78-minutes), is clearly
superior. The production is improved, the music is more symphonic, powerful, and
very close to Van der Graaf. One song is a Gnidrolog cover. Along with the 2nd
Il Bacio della Medusa, this is the most
symphonic progressive album on the Black Widow label, and anyone requiring a
retro prog fix need look no further. Read reviews at ProgArchives of Areknamés
first CD
and Love Hate Round Trip.
Arpia -
Terramare ($16.99)
Terramare (2006) is the 2nd CD for Arpia, more than ten years after
their debut Liberazione. The sound here is heavily guitar-driven, with
keyboards playing a secondary role. All 12 tracks have Italian-language vocals,
mostly male with a guest female singer. This one falls into the prog-metal and
progressive hard rock category, with a dark ambience. The more reflective
numbers with the cleaner guitar tone come off as more refined and more
progressive, while the vocals do much to broaden the scope of the album and give
it an Italian progressive feel. 60-minutes.
Astralia
- Connected ($15.99)The 2000 debut album by an Italian quintet singing in English. Their style is
much more British than Italian. It sounds completely familiar, and yet there
isn’t anyone you can easily compare it to. If at the beginning of the album you
think they’re a guitar-oriented band, by the end of the album you’ve decided
that the keyboards dominate. Neither in fact dominates, and the songs are
melodic and well-crafted.
Aton’s - Capolinea
($13.99)
Aton’s is an Italian band formed in 1977, though their first LP did not
appear until 1988. 25 years and several albums
later, the band decided to call it quits, so Capolinea, recorded
between 1997-2000, should be their last. Aton’s have always mixed
English progressive and neo-progressive rock with the Italian romantic
progressive tradition. Their Italian language vocals are one of their great
strengths. They’ve been one of our favorite post-1970’s Italian bands
because their music is filled with such brio, as befits the Italian
culture and sunny Mediterranean climate -- nothing dark, brooding, or plodding
here. Merge the feel of PFM’s Passpartu album with more electric
instrumentation and more rock and you have Aton’s.
Pietro Ratto - Xenia ($15.99)Pietro Ratto is the leader, singer, and guitarist of the band Aton’s. This is
his 1997 first solo album, all-instrumental, in which he alternates classical and
electric guitar-dominated pieces, with keyboards, bass, and programmed drums
filling out the sound. Between the styles of Riccardo Zappa and Marcello Capra,
this will surprise many guitar fans. Always tasteful and rarely demonstrative.
Atto
IV - A Parte ($13.99)
SALE!On their 2005 debut A Parte, this Italian band exists between
progressive rock and prog-metal. There is no doubt Atto IV play
prog-metal, but they have an excellent keyboardist and are capable of playing
PFM and Banco style Italian symphonic progressive at a very high level. Apart
from the generic metal riffing, they have great technique and ideas, and they sing in Italian
to boot. Would this be better without the heavy guitar and occasional
double-pedal from the drummer? Is Brunello di Montalcino improved by adding
Budweiser to it? Philosophical questions aside, this is a good one.
Il Bacio della Medusa - same ($16.99)The Italian band Il Bacio della Medusa is a contemporary band playing purely
early 1970’s style Italian progressive, with vocals in Italian of course. Their
self-titled first CD (2004, 56-minutes) was first released by the band, later
reissued by the Black Widow label in this edition. The music on this CD is hard
progressive in the vein of De De Lind and the other harder-edged
first-generation Italian prog bands. Keyboards are used sparingly, but their
sound is still very progressive due to the use of flute, acoustic guitar,
mandolin, and sax. At the time of this writing,
the band’s website
is just a placeholder.
Balletto di Bronzo - Trys ($15.99)The welcome live return of this famous Italian progressive band, still lead
by Leo Nero, aka Gianni Leone. On this 1996 recording, they are a
keyboard/bass/drums trio with vocals. All of Ys is performed plus tracks
from the two Leo Nero albums, as well as a few unreleased tracks composed in the 1970’s.
Banco - Nudo Live in Tokyo ’97 ($14.99)Banco is, along with PFM, one of the two pillars of Italian progressive rock.
As a live act, they are still going strong. Nudo Live in Tokyo ’97 is the same as Disc 2
of the Nudo 2CD set. (Disc 1 of Nudo contained one new studio
track and unplugged versions of older songs.) You’d think the title would be
self-explanatory, but while it is all live, not all of it is from Tokyo nor is
it all from 1997. It is a well-recorded live album with an excellent selection
of vintage material.
Il
Baricentro - Trusciant ($14.99)Sconcerto (1976) and Trusciant (1978) are the only two albums
by this Italian progressive jazz-rock band that grew out of Festa Mobile. They
are heavily keyboard-based, with symphonic aspects and a funkiness a la 70’s
Weather Report. The band added two percussionists on the Trusciant album,
which sports more African and Latin elements. As Italian 70’s jazz-rock bands
go, Il Baricentro is second only to Arti & Mestieri.
Barock
Project - Misteriosevoci ($15.99)
The 2007 debut CD for Italian quartet Barock Project is simply fantastic for
lovers of Italian 1970’s symphonic progressive. The music is purely 70’s styled
with vocals in Italian, dominated by a virtuoso keyboardist schooled in
classical music. It is that uniquely Italian blend of English progressive rock
(ELP foremost), classical music, and romantic Italian pop melodies. 60-minutes. Read the
Progressive World review.
Barrock - La Strega ($15.99)Solid instrumental (with some wordless female vocals) symphonic progressive
and classical rock. This overlaps at different times with the work of Ars Nova, Banco, and Synergy.
Biglietto per L’Inferno - Il Tempo della Semina
jewel box ($16.99)Biglietto per L’Inferno’s self-titled 1973 album is an Italian heavy progressive classic, like an
Italian Uriah Heep perhaps but more complex and proggy, featuring dual keys,
flute, and fuzz guitar. Il Tempo della Semina was
recorded in 1974 but not released until the 1990’s because the record label
folded. The album shows its age in the recording quality, but it is a good
progressive album, not as heavy as their first. Many consider it superior,
probably depending on one’s taste for the hard rock elements of their first.
This is the Trident Records edition, which has better sound
than the first CD edition.
Bondage
- Anima Terra ($15.99)This album was recorded in 1995 but not published until 2000, and it appears
Bondage has joined the ranks of one-shot Italian bands. Their sole album is an
adventurous and inventive progressive rock with some similarities to Deus ex
Machina, DFA, and Area, but more melodic and accessible than any of them.
Bondage has just as much of the romantic Italian symphonic style. They have a
suitably dramatic and charismatic vocalist singing in Italian, and the music is
constantly exciting, always changing but in a completely natural way.
Cabaret
du Ciel - Blue Form ($15.99)Recorded in 1998, this Italian melodic progressive band is criminally
under-recognized. They have a female vocalist with a dark and enchanting voice
and use violin in addition to the usual keys, guitar, bass and drums. Original
and modern, sensual and intoxicating, they are hard to classify but easy to fall in love with.
Cage -
87/94 ($11.99)
SALE!This Italian band has existed since 1987, but
this 2005 release is only their second album, comprised of songs composed between 1987-1994.
Cage consists of two keyboard players,
a flute/guitar player, a singer/bassist and a drummer. These six pieces,
including a 20-minute suite, mix instrumental and English-language vocal passages and are often
structured around the delicate and beautiful piano parts of Alessandro Bugliani,
the band’s composer and keyboardist. And this is the real thing: dynamic, powerful,
complex symphonic progressive in the 1970’s style, with elements of Genesis,
Yes, ELP, Gentle Giant, and any number of Italian 70’s progressive bands. A brilliant album
that elevates Cage to one of the best latter-day Italian progressive bands.
Calliope -
Città di Frontiera ($16.99)La Terra dei Grandi Occhi (1992) and Città di Frontiera (1993) are
the first two albums by Calliope, an Italian symphonic band who use vintage keys
to play 1970’s style prog with Italian-language vocals. They are faithful to the
Italian tradition of Le Orme, Latte e Miele, PFM, Alphataurus, and RDM, to drop
just a few names.
Davide Camerin - 40 Metri Quadri ($13.99)40 m2 is the 1999 debut by singer/guitarist Davide Camerin,
on a side label of the Italian progressive label Lizard. Assisted by a large
number of musicians, Camerin creates a personal style of pop/rock with a dark,
late-night feel. It can’t be called progressive rock, but neither is it very
commercial. Vocals are in Italian, aside from brief female vocals in English.
Though a short album at 33-minutes, Camerin’s 2nd Natale Parabellum
(2001) is perhaps the more interesting of the two: darker, more atmospheric and
more intimate. These are albums where an understanding of Italian would probably
enhance the listening experience more than usual.
Campo di Marte - same jewel box ($15.99)Campo di Marte is one of the legendary Italian 1970’s progressive bands,
based on their sole album (self-titled) from 1973. This classic combines the
delicate melodicism of early PFM and the progressive hard rock of Il Balletto di
Bronzo’s Ys.
Il
Castello di Atlante - Quintessenza ($16.99)
Il Castello di Atlante - Sono io il Signore delle Terre a Nord ($16.99)Il Castello di Atlante is a band featuring violin in addition to keys, guitar, bass, drums, and
Italian-language vocals. The band was born in 1974 but did not release their
first album until 1992. Their music is very much in the romantic 1970’s Italian
symphonic progressive style (particularly PFM, Quella Vecchia Locanda), and the
violin really takes their music to the next level. Sono... is from 1992,
Passo Dopo Passo from 1994. Come il Seguitare delle
Stagioni (2000) is their 4th album and Quintessenza (2003) is their
5th. Come il Seguitare delle
Stagioni is housed in something between a digipack and a mini-LP sleeve.
Central
Unit - Internal Cut ($15.99)On Internal Cut (2004), this Italian quintet plus guests blends
ambient, jazz-rock, and progressive rock in a novel and modern way. They don’t
use much guitar but instead use sax, flute, and trumpet to go with the
keyboards, bass, drums, loops, samples, and English-language vocals. The first
song is a tribute to Demetrio Stratos (Area) and uses samples of his voice,
while the final song is a cover of Riders on the Storm. There is a lot of
variety here, but the dominant aesthetic is close to that of Sylvian, Jansen,
Barbieri, and other ambient-minded Brits. Digipack, 69-minutes.
Il
Cerchio d’Oro - same ($15.99)Only this posthumous CD documents the activity of this Italian band that only
released three singles at the end of its life. Formed in 1974, Il Cerchio d’Oro
recorded the tracks for an album that remained unreleased until now. It is in a
typical Italian progressive style, though on the simpler side. The sound quality
varies, most of it is fine but one or two tracks sound like a bootleg cassette.
The three singles appear at the end of the CD, but these are in a pop and disco
style. The Mellow label describes this as a missing link between Alphataurus,
Corte dei Miracoli and Panna Fredda. Maybe throw New Trolls in there.
Chiave
di Volta - Ritratto Libero ($16.99)
This 2004 debut is simply one of the best classic-style Italian progressive
albums to come along in the last several years. Chiave
di Volta have all the requisite elements, including a strong vocalist singing in
Italian (who is also a rather good flute player), but the production is modern
and the sound could not be cleaner. They are often complex and intense without
going off the deep end, with frequent fusion elements blended into their
symphonic rock. Recommended to all fans of Italian 1970’s progressive.
Cincinnato
- same mini-LP ($20.99)CD reissue of the 1974 sole album by Cincinnato with three bonus tracks. The
first side of the record contains three instrumental tracks in a jazz-rock vein,
while the second side contains a single 20-minute track with vocals and a more
progressive style. One of the bonus tracks is a long suite recorded live in 1972. The
other two bonus tracks are new songs performed by Cincinnato today. Heavyweight gatefold
mini-LP sleeve with 8-page bilingual booklet. 64-minutes.
Conqueror - Istinto ($16.99)
Istinto is the 2003 debut by a Sicilian quartet fronted by female
singer/keyboardist Simona Rigano, though the band has been in existence since
1994 with Simona only joining in 2002. Their sound is modern, or at least closer
to 1980’s Marillion than to the 1970’s Italian bands, though of course much of
the 1970’s symphonic style has been carried forward. It’s a mature debut, and
the female vocals (in Italian) set Conqueror apart from most of the other
Italian prog bands. Imagine Lana Lane singing for an Italian progressive band
rather than an American AOR band.
Contrappunto
Project - Elegie d’Inverno ($15.99)
This is the same Contrappunto that released the albums Subsidea (1998)
and Lilith (2001), but this is called Contrappunto Project because it is
the work of keyboardist Andrea Cavallo with the assistance of other musicians on
flute, clarinet, bandoneon, trumpet, french horn, and sax. This is a very
classical work, informed by rock and jazz, but with orchestral percussion rather
than drums. As classical music, it tends toward the dark and ominous, not overly
so, but it is a serious sounding work rather than a new agey one.
Cormorano
- Giro Tondo (Giro) Fuori Scena ($15.99)
This Italian quintet was formed in 1976 but didn’t record this album until
2000. The compositions are all from the late 70’s and early 80’s. Cormorano
could be considered the heir to Area, since their lead singer is a clone of
Demetrio Stratos and also played with Stratos in the 70’s. Cormorano is more
accessible than Area though, less jazzy, a lot less avant-garde, more of a
straight symphonic progressive rock band, though not too straight. So if you’d
like to hear a vocal gymnast like Demetrio Stratos fronting a more conventional
prog band, Cormorano is it. 67-minutes.
Corte
Aulica - Il temporale e l’arcobaleno ($15.99)
This is the 2007 debut by an Italian progressive rock quartet. The seven
tracks of the album proper are instrumental and in a pleasant, flowing 1970’s
style vaguely in the Camel direction. The Mellow label feels there is also a
resemblance to (instrumental) Hatfield and the North and Caravan, but the resemblance is in the sound palette,
not the harmonic and metrical sophistication of the Canterbury bands. The final
two tracks are for some reason listed as bonus tracks and have vocals in Italian
and a slightly more contemporary (heavier) guitar sound. The vocals help the
songs come alive, so it would be good to see Corte Aulica use more vocals in
the future.
Delirium - Vibrazioni Notturne: Live ($16.99)
Delirium released a couple Italian progressive classics in the early 1970’s
before disbanding in 1975. They reformed in 2003 with
three original members plus a new bassist and new guitarist-vocalist. The
70-minute Vibrazioni Notturne was recorded at the end of summer 2006 and
presents a mix of old classics revitalized, new material, and a couple of
perfect covers for a live show: a Jethro Tull medley and With a Little Help
from My Friends.
Dono
Celeste - So Linger ($15.99)Dono Celeste’s 1999 recording is unusual for an Italian band, closer to the
Krautrock of the 1970’s or early Pink Floyd. It is cosmic and psychedelic, with
guitar improvisations on the wild and noisy side, backed by spacey effects.
There are also gentle vocal tracks (in English), suitably drowned in reverb. The
electric guitar contrasts sharply with the overall mood, which is languid and ethereal.
Doracor -
Onirika ($15.99)
Doracor - Segni Premonitori ($15.99)Doracor is an anagram/pseudonym for keyboardist and drummer Corrado Sardella. Segni Premonitori (1998) and Antiche Impressioni (1999) are the 2nd and 3rd Doracor albums. These are high-caliber, primarily-instrumental symphonic rock albums, with Sardella handling most of the instruments himself, with assistance from guest musicians. These have a very full-band sound and a 1970’s orientation. The best way to think of them is as the albums Tony Banks could have made if Tony made progressive rock solo albums instead of trying to match the chart success of Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford. Antiche Impressioni features a female vocalist, a bassist and a guitarist, while Segni Premonitori features a male singer and a guitarist.
Transizione (2001, currently out-of-stock) trumps the earlier albums, as here Sardella is aided by seven other musicians, and the sound is that of a full band, with male and female vocals in Italian. It is one of the best symphonic progressive albums that no one has heard and is quite similar to the first album by the French band Hecenia. Though it does have most of the hallmarks of the Italian 1970’s romantic progressive style, it is even more influenced by Genesis circa Wind and Wuthering, while at times the energy level suggests later bands such as IQ. Evanescenze (2005) continues in this vein but is even better. Just male vocals this time around, but they are very strong, reminding one of Aton’s or even Locanda delle Fate at times.
And now on Onirika (2007), Doracor has long
since gone from being a solo vehicle for Sardella to being a full band, though Sardella
still writes the music. Mixing three parts Genesis with one part classic
Italian prog, Doracor have perfected their style and created another wonderful
symphonic prog album. Female vocals return on this album and the male vocals are
downplayed (lyrics in Italian), but the album is heavily instrumental. This
isn’t any less original than half the progressive rock being made today, and
recognition for Doracor is long overdue.
Dr.
Dude - Ykaro ($16.99)This 1997 CD is between 1990’s hard rock and classic Italian prog, blending a
crunchy guitar style with analog keyboards and a singer with a classic 1970’s
style voice. The hard rock subsides on the later tracks.
Egoband - Trip in the Light of the World ($9.99)
SALE!On Trip in the Light of the World (1991), this Italian
neo-progressive band melds high-energy progressive rock with hard rock. Vocals
in English, a bit Fish-like.
Empire
- Back to Knowledge ($16.99)1994 Italian prog album. “The duo Rogani/Sburlati, who operate under the name
of Syndone, have created a new band called Empire together with singer Rosanna
De Luca. Because no guitar can be heard, this CD makes an ideal treat for lovers
of keyboards. While the [contributions] of the Syndone duo are very symphonic,
the voice of De Luca is rather an ordinary rock voice. Compared to a lot of
similar projects however, Empire uses a real drummer, but unfortunately he uses
triggered drums which sound as nerve-racking as computers! Concerning the
keyboard parts, it is mainly the inspiration of Keith Emerson that can be felt.
It is also the main idea of Empire to create an up-to-date sound which can
easily be heard on The Power. The influences remain, but Empire wants to
get close to the sound of today by means of modern rhythms and the rock-flavored
vocals. [The] balance between instrumentals and vocal tracks give a nice
diversity to the album.” [John “Bo Bo” Bollenberg]
Endlich
Allein - Le Voci del Mondo ($15.99)Despite the German band name, this 1996 recording is by an Italian band who
you might swear is the same band as Aton’s, as their style is identical. So not
surprisingly, we find that Aton’s singer/guitarist Pietro Ratto co-arranged all
the songs and recorded the album in his studio. It happens that we like Aton’s
style a lot. Like Aton’s, Endlich Allein take the Italian romantic
progressive tradition of the 1970’s and apply it to more contemporary rock, with
their Italian language vocals and classical guitar as their trademarks. The music is filled with such brio, as befits the Italian
culture and sunny Mediterranean climate -- nothing dark, brooding, or plodding
here. Merge the feel of PFM’s Passpartu album with more electric
instrumentation and more rock and you have Aton’s and Endlich Allein.
Eris Pluvia - Rings of Earthly Light ($15.99)
Rings of Earthly Light is a top-notch Italian symphonic progressive
album from 1991, one of the best of its era.
Fancyfluid -
King’s Journey ($11.99)
SALE!
SALE!An Italian neo-prog band singing in English, greatly influenced by the 1980’s
English bands. After a relatively weak debut, Fancyfluid grew by leaps and
bounds on King’s Journey (1992) and The Sheltering Sea (1995),
moving closer to 1970’s progressive. Rodolfo Maltese (Banco) and Pietro Ratto (Aton’s)
contribute to King’s Journey.
Fiaba -
I Racconti del Giullare Cantore (CD+DVD, $19.99)
Lo Sgabello del Rospo (2001) is the third CD from a Sicilian quintet with an operatic singer, playing a guitar-based progressive rock or prog-metal, generally dark and often heavy. They started out blending heavy prog with medieval folk, though on this album they’ve shifted toward prog-metal and a harder-edged sound. Lo Sgabello del Rospo is a rock opera whose main attraction is vocalist Giuseppe Brancato; he has that dramatic style descended from Demetrio Stratos (Area) or Alberto Piras (Deus Ex Machina). 62-minutes.
I Racconti del Giullare Cantore is Fiaba’s
2005 studio album. This one restores some of the medieval/Mediterranean folk and
fairy-tale qualities, with enough acoustic guitar to keep it interesting. As far
as guitar-only bands go, Fiaba is unique in the world. This CD comes with a PAL DVD (all-region, 16:9 widescreen)
containing a very professional video of the first track of the album, with
elaborate sets and costumes and credits that go on nearly as long as the video.
Most U.S. and other NTSC DVD players won’t play it, though it will play in a computer
DVD drive. Note we will not accept returns of this
item because the DVD will not play on your NTSC player.
Finisterre -
La Meccanica Naturale mini-LP ($19.99)
Finisterre is one of the very best Italian progressive bands to emerge
during the 1990’s, an heir to PFM perhaps. They may not be on that lofty level,
but they are very good, with loads of flute, guitar, and keyboards crafting
compelling melodies and romantic atmospheres. La Meccanica Naturale is Finisterre’s 2004 studio album, produced by PFM drummer Franz Di Cioccio.
More so than most bands, Finisterre does not make the same album twice, and even
on the same album, they don’t stick to just a single prog style. This album
opens in prime Italian symphonic prog territory, suggesting Museo Rosenbach or
even Locanda delle Fate, with majestic Mellotron and everything else. But by the
end of the album, the sound is more modern, a bit like Porcupine Tree even. The
band added a second keyboardist on this album and dropped the flute. They may
still be the best post-1970’s Italian progressive band. Heavyweight gatefold mini-LP sleeve with 16-page booklet.
Floating
State - Thirteen Tolls at Noon ($16.99)
The 2003 record by this Italian band could have come straight out of the
early 1970’s British progressive scene. Floating State have numerous influences
including Genesis, Jethro Tull, medieval and psychedelic folk, but the dominant
one is Van der Graaf Generator circa Pawn Hearts or even earlier. One
track alone, the 44-minute Pilgrimage to Nowhere, could be a lost Van der
Graaf Generator album. Aside from that track, there are three shorter tracks and
another epic at 22-minutes, for a total length of 75-minutes! This could be the
best British 1970’s progressive rock album released in another decade, in
another country. (Would’ve been a double-LP though.)
Fungus -
Careful! ($15.99)
This is the 2006 debut from an Italian psychedelic rock band singing in English, with a female vocalist on
three tracks and the greater part of the album instrumental. The Mellow label
mentions Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd and Gong, which is fair enough on most of the tracks, though the vocal tracks are
more modern than that and with more of a pop influence.
Gap
Party - Additives ($15.99)Additives is the 2004 2nd CD from this Italian band singing in English.
The track Afterwards is a tribute to Van der Graaf Generator, and that is
the best reference for their style, specifically the pre-Pawn Hearts VdGG
style when they were at their most psychedelic. A short CD at 36:23.
Garden Wall - Forget the Colours ($15.99)After four CDs in the 1990’s on the defunct WMMS label, Garden Wall
reemerged in 2002 on the Mellow Records label with Forget the Colours. They began as a pretty
good heavy progressive band, but with each album, they moved closer to
metal: heavier, more technical, less melodic. That trend continues here, as
Forget the Colours is a technical prog-metal with English lyrics, though it would be generous to refer to
what Alessandro Seravalle does as “singing”. Make sure you like metal and noise.
Garybaldi -
Astrolabio mini-LP ($20.99)After their 1970 debut album under the name Gleeman, which had a 1960’s sound,
this band changed their name to Garybaldi, moving up musically as well as
alphabetically. Their next album was Nuda (1972). Astrolabio
(1973) consists of just two side-long pieces of guitar-dominated hard
progressive. Their keyboardist is present on the album but was no longer a
member of the band. Guitarist Bambi Fossati’s love of Jimi Hendrix is still
evident. The spaciness and semi-improvisational nature of the music takes it
close to the kosmic krautrock style of the era or to Grobschnitt’s Solar
Music Live. Heavyweight gatefold mini-LP sleeve with 4-panel bilingual booklet.
Gatto Marte -
Faust ($17.99)
Gatto Marte - Gioco del Mago ($16.99)
A top-notch, charming, and very original Italian acoustic progressive band. They are a quartet of violin, bassoon, piano, and double-bass, with additional musicians on drums, percussion, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, organ, string quartet, and vocals, varying with each album. Sonically these are close to Le Orme’s two acoustic albums of the late 1970’s, though less vocal and song-oriented. They all feature sophisticated arrangements, similar to After Crying’s chamber music pieces, Julverne, or an Italian Penguin Café Orchestra. Marachelle (2005, 73-minutes) is their 5th; Gioco del Mago (2000, 52-minutes) is their 2nd.
Faust is the 6th Gatto Marte CD, recorded live in California in 2005. Gatto Marte toured the U.S. and Canada, performing an original soundtrack to the 1926 silent film Faust live while the film was shown. The music here is at times a little more, well, soundtrack-y than their other albums, and though the visual element would enhance the experience (any chance of a DVD?), the music still has the same charm. Faust has a playing time of 72-minutes. There is some hidden music at the end. After the film finishes, Gatto Marte play a couple Italian chestnuts in light-hearted fashion for the audience’s amusement.
Animali Rari is the second solo album from Pietro Lusvardi, the double
bass player of Gatto Marte. It was recorded live in September 2002 and features
Francesco D’Auria on drums & percussion and Michel Godard on tuba and serpent
(an obsolete bass cornet). The rest of Gatto Marte joins in on one song. Most of
this album is low-key and more ambient than Gatto Marte.
Germinale -
Scogli di Sabbia mini-LP ($19.99)
Germinale -
same ($15.99)Cielo & Terra (2001) is the third album from Germinale, an Italian quintet plus guests playing a lyrical and refined progressive rock with classical and jazz touches, very good male vocals in Italian plus occasional female vocals. Lush and romantic, nothing heavy here. The self-titled album is their 1994 debut, while E Il Suo Respiro Ancora Agita le Onde (1995) is their 2nd. These first two albums are more in the classic Italian 70’s prog style; their 2nd especially was one of the best of the 1990’s.
Scogli di Sabbia (2005) is an 80-minute CD that contains four new
tracks (26-minutes), four tracks released previously on tribute or various
artists CDs, seven live tracks from 2002 (27-minutes), and a short song from
their early career. Two of the new songs are instrumentals and two feature new
female singer Sara Nannipieri. The covers include Genesis - The Knife,
Jethro Tull - Wond’ring Aloud, and a new version of their cover of King
Crimson - Dr. Diamond. These are followed by a remix of Germinale’s song
from the Kalevala 3CD. The live tracks are drawn from all three of their
previous studio albums, and the sound quality is very good. Heavyweight gatefold
mini-LP sleeve with 16-page booklet.
Goad - In the House of the Dark Shining Dreams ($16.99)
The Italian progressive band Goad have been in
existence since the 1980’s and have several privately-released CDs that have
rarely sold outside Italy, as well as The Wood (2006) on Mellow. The
In the House of the Dark Shining Dreams (2006, 77-minutes) CD is their first
for the Black Widow label, which is a good fit, as Goad play dark
progressive rock firmly entrenched in the early 1970’s. The feel of early
Genesis, early King Crimson and mostly Van der Graaf Generator is present throughout. No points for
spotting the last two influences, as the CD includes covers of 21st Century Schizoid
Man and Killer. In addition to the analog keys, electric & acoustic
guitar, bass and drums, Goad toss in some flute, sax, and violin.
Consistent with the change of label to Black Widow, the music here is darker and
harder than on The Wood, and the production is murky. Maurilio Rossi has one of those voices
like Mr. Doctor of Devil Doll that only a mother could love, but it’s his band
and he can do what he likes. Read
reviews
at ProgArchives.
Greenwall -
From the Treasure Box mini-LP ($19.99)
Greenwall is the project of the acclaimed
Italian composer and keyboard wizard Andrea Pavoni. For the third Greenwall CD
From the Treasure Box (2005, 61-minutes),
Andrea returns with a full band including beautiful female vocals (in Italian)
and eight new songs. Greenwall has a more original style than most of the
current Italian progressive bands. Though their inspiration is clearly drawn
from the 1970’s, their combination of female vocals and Pavoni’s
classically-influenced keyboards is unique. They add touches of folk and
jazz-rock and some very orchestral arrangements to achieve a romantic and
magical atmosphere. The album features some notable guests: Sofia Baccini (Presence) on vocals, drummer Pierpaolo Ferroni (Montefeltro), and bass
player Pierpaolo Ranieri. The CD artwork contains original drawings by Serena
Riglietti, renowned for her work on the Italian edition of the Harry Potter
books. Heavyweight gatefold mini-LP sleeve with 16-page full-color booklet. (After
clicking the mp3 icon above and waiting for the Flash site to load, click “Download Area”.)
Greenwall -
Il Petalo del Fiore e Altre Storie ($14.99)
The other Greenwall CD on Mellow, Elektropuzzles, is really a solo
CD by keyboardist/composer Andrea Pavoni. While that one is symphonic new age,
Il Petalo del Fiore is symphonic progressive with a full band. This CD
kicks off with the 33-minute title suite, which was recorded in 1989. Given the
opportunity to issue the suite, Greenwall decided to include some other tracks
belonging to the same period, plus one track recorded between 1994 and 1998. The
feel of this is close to Aton’s, joyful and romantic in the Italian progressive
tradition, but more instrumental and more keyboard-oriented. You could also
compare much of it to Rick Wakeman’s two collaborations with Mario Fasciano, and
there’s a suggestion of Genesis circa Wind and Wuthering. Vocals in Italian. 63-minutes.
Heatwave -
Inside Me, Out of Time ($15.99)Heatwave is a male/female Italian duo of Massimo Mazzeo on 6 & 12-string
acoustic guitars, electric guitar, and vocals; and Paola Buscaglia on vocals.
Mazzeo is the founder of the band Nostalgia and has contributed to the
Zarathustra’s Revenge Italian progressive tribute set. On this 1999
recording, they are assisted by a number of other musicians who add fretless
bass, electric guitar, drums, keyboards, and a bit of harp and fiddle. It’s a
blend of folky pop-oriented songwriting and expansive, progressive arrangements.
The main features of the music are the acoustic guitar and the lovely female
vocals, plus a big vibrant sound. Nothing earth shattering, but a very pleasant
listen. The lyrics are in both English and Italian.
Hero
- Hero mini-LP ($20.99)This is a prog rarity recorded in 1972 and originally released on LP in 1974
for an obscure German label, unearthed and released on CD in 2006. Hero was an
Italian trio singing in English. This album sounds very much like the British
Vertigo-label bands of the early 1970s, that early progressive style with
spaciness, lots of Hammond organ, fuzz guitar, and the appropriate singing voice
for the style. Quite a find; one wouldn’t have suspected there was any more of
this type of prog left to be discovered. This CD reissue was licensed by the band members and includes one
bonus track, an alternate version of one of the songs. Heavyweight gatefold
mini-LP sleeve with 8-page booklet containing the English lyrics.
Hostsonaten -
Springtides ($15.99)
The band Höstsonaten is also known as Finisterre Project, because all the Finisterre
members appear, but here Fabio Zuffanti has creative control. Springtides (2005) is a 68-minute
collection of rare and unreleased tracks recorded between 1992 and 2002 and
taken from various sources. Some of the tracks are demo quality but are included to illustrate the genesis and evolution of Hostsonaten.
It sounds a bit like Zuffanti is cleaning house until midway through the album
where the full band lineup appears and the album really picks up.
Imagin’aria -
Esperia ($15.99)
Esperia is the 2002 3rd album by this Italian quintet (vocals, two guitars, bass,
drums) with guests supplying keys, flute, and violin. There is an acoustic folk
element as on their first album, but this is primarily energetic progressive
rock on the hard and heavy side. While Imagin’aria do have an influence of 1970’s Italian progressive, their
overall approach is more contemporary. They’re
not quite as symphonic as some of the best-known Italian bands. Their sound is
more weighted toward guitars, but not metal or hard rock guitar. Rather they subtly
blend in folk and fusion influences in the Italian progressive tradition.
Excellent vocals in Italian. La Tempesta is their 1999 2nd album.
Bernardo
Lanzetti - I Sing the Voice Impossible ($12.99)Lanzetti was the singer for Acqua Fragile and for PFM on Chocolate Kings,
Jet Lag, and Passpartu. Don’t expect anything like PFM on this
1998 solo album, but there is some interesting experimentation with
voice-controlled electronics. It’s a varied set of mainly pop and rock songs
sung in English, with other musicians handling guitars, keys, sax, bass and
drums. If you can overlook the more commercial moments, there is a lot of
quality work here, especially on the more atmospheric songs with their
sophisticated synth arrangements. Digipack.
Living Life - Mysterious Dream ($15.99)Mysterious Dream (1981) is the 2nd of two releases for Living Life. It followed a six
year intermission, as their debut Let: From Experience to Experience was
released in 1975. The lineup on the two albums is very different. Mysterious Dream
is the more cohesive of the two, more keyboard-based, with both a flute player
and an oboe player in the lineup. The music is very good and fairly original, a
mix of symphonic prog and melodic jazz-rock, mostly instrumental, with vocals in
English. Let: From Experience to Experience is a blend of jazz, rock and
ethnic music, instrumental except for one vocal track in English.
Lomé -
Fiori su Marte ($17.99)
2004 CD from a unique and adventurous quartet with an incredible singer named
Riccardo Ruggeri who reminds one strongly of Demetrio
Stratos, though Ruggeri sticks to singing and doesn’t attempt the strange
vocalizings. The rest of the band consists of piano, contrabass, and
drums/percussion. Fiori su Marte contains 11 tracks with ever-changing moods, from prog
to jazz to avant-garde, but generally melodic and stately. All the tracks are
centered on the talents of one of the best new Italian vocalists. 59-minutes.
London
Underground - Through a Glass Darkly ($14.99)
SALE!London Underground are four experienced Italian musicians who played for a number of bands in studio sessions, among them the psychedelic/prog band Standarte. Their self-titled first album from 2000 blends late-1960’s psychedelia with early-1970’s progressive, and many of the songs sound like a missing link between The Beatles and progressive rock. Lots of organ, also some Mellotron, vocals in English.
Through a Glass Darkly (2003) is their 2nd album
and is in more of an early-70’s progressive or proto-progressive style. Their sound emphasizes
“dirty” Hammond organ, piano, and vocals, coupled with guitar using a period
tone, and occasional Mellotron, clavinet, or Fender Rhodes. With sax, flute, and female vocals from guest musicians,
London Underground offers eleven concise prog songs here. Like fellow Italians Men of
Lake, this may remind you of the
Canterbury bands, early Pink Floyd, and the Italian progressive bands of the
1970’s, but their style never really comes further forward than about 1971.
Simon
Luca - Per proteggere l’enorme Maria ($15.99)Vinyl Magic reissued the 2nd and 3rd albums from this Italian artist, which
they rather euphemistically refer to as progressive rock albums. Simon Luca was
an assumed name for singer/songwriter Alberto Favata, who has one of those
gravelly Joe Cocker voices. These are rock/pop albums with some progressive
touches. Per proteggere l’enorme Maria (1972) has several name Italian musicians
in the backing band. It is the more pop-oriented and dated sounding of the two.
E la mia mente? (1973) is the more rock-oriented, with the 17 tracks
linked to form two long suites.
Luna - same
mini-LP ($20.99)First ever CD release for this forgotten 1981 album by Osanna’s guitarist
Danilo Rustici. The album is sung in Italian and features a new arrangement of
Stravinsky’s Firebird. Luna fills the gap between Osanna’s 1978 split and
the later Rustici solo works, though the music is less progressive than the
cover art would suggest. Heavyweight gatefold mini-LP sleeve with 12-page
bilingual booklet.
Mad Crayon - Diamanti ($15.99)The 1999 second album from this Roman band manages to be very much in the Italian
1970’s progressive style of PFM, Banco, and Locanda delle
Fate, without losing its contemporary
edge. Here are those characteristic lush, warm Italian vocal melodies and
harmonies. The music is lyrical and romantic, with both delicate and powerful
passages, compositions and arrangements approaching the level of the best Italian progressive bands.
Malibran -
Strani Colori ($15.99)
Malibran - The Wood of Tales ($14.99)Malibran is a six-man Italian band with a 1970’s-oriented style featuring lots of
flute. They were one of a handful of bands keeping the progressive torch burning
in Italy during the late 1980’s, just before the explosion of new prog bands. Think of a
cross between Genesis, Camel, Tull, and all those Italian 70’s bands, and you get the idea.
Strani Colori is subtitled Rare Tracks 1989-2002 and features Jethro Tull, Jeff
Beck, and Camel covers in addition to previously-unreleased live and studio tracks.
The Wood of Tales is the CD reissue of their
1989 first album. The 67-minute official live CD Live on Stage 1994 was
recorded on 26 September 1994 in Italy, edited and mastered in 2002.
Oltre l’Ignoto (2001) is even closer to classic Italian prog than their
earlier albums and may be their best, partly because they switch to singing in
Italian. (There are RealAudio clips as well as mp3's at the link above.)
Malombra -
The Dissolution Age ($15.99)The 2001 3rd album by this heavy gothic prog band is a hefty one at 73-minutes.
The lineup has changed with frontman Mercy the only original member. Malombra
uses a wall of symphonic sound to support Mercy’s deep, operatic, apocalyptic,
and generally over-the-top vocals. The lyrics are in English (sort of). In some
ways, Malombra is a more symphonic and bombastic Hawkwind.
Maury
E I Pronomi - (Ec)citazioni Neoclassiche ($15.99) (Ec)citazioni Neoclassiche (2005) is the third for this band from Turin, following two private
releases. It sounds like it came straight out of the 1970’s, not so surprising
though for a band that traces it roots to 1979. Le Orme is probably their
biggest influence. Maury E I Pronomi isn’t quite on that level, but most fans of
classic Italian prog will enjoy this. 61-minutes.
Men of Lake - Music from the Land of Mountains, Lake and Wine ($14.99)A good Italian progressive band emphasizing a nostalgic style and vintage Hammond organ sound on
their early albums such as Men of Lake (1991) and Out of the Water
(1993). Music from the Land of Mountains... (1998) is more adventurous and diverse
than their previous albums, featuring wind instruments
(sax, flute, brass) on some tracks. The organ sound is now accompanied by modern
keyboards and there is more room for guitar.
Metamorfosi -
Paradiso ($20.99)
Metamorfosi had its beginnings in Rome in 1971 and recorded two of the
classic Italian progressive rock albums: E fu il Sesto Giorno (1972) and
Inferno (1973). Paradiso (2004) is the continuation of
Inferno. Despite the
intervening 30 years, Paradiso picks up right where Inferno left
off. Yes, it’s that good; in fact, we’d give it the edge over Inferno. It
doesn’t sound like a sterile copy of the past or like one of the many attempts
by younger bands to recreate the glories of the 1970’s. This is the real thing,
keyboard-dominated symphonic progressive with romantic Italian vocals. Metamorfosi
are back!
Carlo Mezzanotte & Syntaxis - Visibile ($15.99)Jazz-rock in the Phil Miller, Return to Forever, and Weather Report
styles. Visibile is from 1996.
Mindflower
- Mindfloater ($14.99)This 2001 album is a classy and fairly original symphonic progressive album
from an Italian band singing in English. They sound much more like a British
prog band than an Italian one though, with a slight Pink Floyd and Genesis
influence, some spaciness, and a predominance of dreamy and intimate pieces.
Mindflower’s debut six year earlier was mostly acoustic, but Mindfloater
is more rock-oriented, with a richer sound palette. It isn’t retro but it isn’t
particularly modern either. It’s more of a contemporary take on classic
progressive, using synths, piano, and delicate guitar and emphasizing beauty
over heaviness. The album has a lot of instrumental content, with male vocals
the rest of the time and female vocals only on a couple tracks.
Montefeltro - Il Pesce Rosso ($15.99)This Italian band is known for their great Il Tempo di Far la Fantasia
album, released on Musea. That 1992 album established Montefeltro as a successor
to Banco and PFM. Il Pesce Rosso is the 2001 follow-up to that album. Of
the two primary musicians in the 1992 lineup, only one is still present in 2001. Il Pesce Rosso
is not quite as good as its predecessor but is still a respectable progressive
rock album with long tracks sung in Italian.
Moongarden -
Songs from the Lighthouse ($12.99)
Moongarden is an Italian progressive
band led by keyboardist Cristiano Roversi and guitarist David Cremoni.
They began as a mostly Genesis-influenced band. Both Roversi and Cremoni
were also part of the very Genesis-like Submarine Silence, and Roversi’s solo
album The Park owes a large debt to Tony Banks. (Check below for both
CDs.) As Moongarden have
evolved, they’ve added other influences to make their music more contemporary.
With their 2004 CD
Round Midnight, they had achieved an intriguing blend of old-school prog
with aspects of Porcupine Tree, Radiohead, or The Amber Light. Moongarden added a new guitarist and vocalist before
recording Songs from the Lighthouse (2008, 71-minutes). The result is an
album with more energy than the previous one. It is also more lush and
symphonic, with wave after wave of Mellotron strings crashing ashore, but it
remains primarily a contemporary progressive rock record. This is close to
Porcupine Tree at their best (before their slide into metal), but more symphonic
and with more ties to classic progressive. Moongarden’s old Genesis style is
even allowed center stage on a track or two. Andy Tillison of The Tangent guests
on lead vocals on one track. All in all, this is an outstanding record that will
appeal to fans of both classic and modern British prog (which is to say there
isn’t much influence of the Italian progressive bands here).
Narrow
Pass - A Room of Fairy Queen’s ($15.99)
This is an outstanding Italian symphonic prog group consisting of ex-Eris
Pluvia members, with La Maschera di Cera’s vocalist and a very good female
singer recruited for the (English-language) vocals. This 2006 debut however is about
half instrumental, much of it in the majestic and soaring Camel and Genesis
vein. Some tracks are enriched with flutes, bagpipes, soprano sax, and classical
guitar, which give the music a warm, renaissance flavor. Narrow Pass display
many of the best traits of both the Italian and British symphonic prog styles,
such that A Room of Fairy Queen’s ranks with Eris Pluvia’s Rings of Earthly Light.
Roberto Natullo & Nawba Ensemble - Ida y Vuelta ($16.99)Flautist Roberto Natullo leads a large ensemble of Italian musicians in a
spirited romp through jazz-rock, progressive, Celtic and ethnic folk
territories. This is exuberant music, using lots of acoustic instruments with
flute in the lead, very appealing.
Leo
Nero - Vero ($14.99)Leo Nero was a pseudonym used by Gianni Leone, keyboardist and leader of Il
Balletto di Bronzo, for the solo career he embarked on following the demise of
Il Balletto. Despite a few commercial pop songs, Vero (1977) is quite a
good progressive rock album, sometimes reminiscent of Il Balletto di Bronzo.
Leone sings and plays everything himself including drums and a little guitar,
with keyboards dominating.
Next -
The Virtual Cage ($16.99)1994 progressive rock in the Yes and Peter Gabriel veins.
Nodo
Gordiano - Alea ($9.99)
SALE!The 1999 debut by Nodo Gordiano is a very good, mostly-instrumental progressive rock album in the 1970’s style with a more modern sound. The quartet has the typical keys/guitars/bass/drums lineup, but the keyboardist also plays various woodwinds (sax, flute, clarinet). The drummer has a style similar to Furio Chirico of Arti & Mestieri, using many creative embellishments. Track 1 sounds like a blend of Red-era King Crimson with fusion, while track 2 moves into PFM territory with lots of flute, then track 3 is again completely different: It’s the one song with vocals (in Italian) and has some of the horror film feel of Goblin or Antonius Rex. The rest of the album is a blend of symphonic progressive and fusion. Every style they tackle they do well.
Alea (2005, 37-minutes) is their 2nd CD, released on Mellow
Records, but it may as well be a different band. Nodo Gordiano is a trio here,
with bass player Andrea De Luca the only person in common with the lineup that
recorded their debut. Alea is a collection of instrumental improvisations
for synthesizers, bass and drums. The tracks are generally spacey, using
electronic-sounding analog synth patches, and evolve in a linear fashion as most
jams do.
Nostalgia
- Welcome to Edo’s Land ($15.99)
Nostalgia is one of those bands that has contributed to just about every one
of Mellow Records’ tribute CDs. This is their 3rd album, a mellow (pun
unavoidable), melodic progressive rock with a slight folk influence, with male
and female vocals in English aside from one song in Italian. It’s all rather
tentative and second-rate but may be of interest to Camel fans for the covers of
Drafted and Camelogue. 60-minutes.
Notabene
- Sei Lacrime d’Ambra ($15.99)
On their 2005 self-titled debut, Notabene play a 1970’s-style Italian symphonic prog with touches of jazz-rock.
They have an excellent singer along the lines of Locanda Delle Fate’s
Leonardo Sasso, and the lyrics are
in Italian. They add violin and trumpet for a unique twist on classic Italian
prog, and the shortest track is about 7-minutes long. Sei Lacrime d’Ambra
(2007, 63-minutes) drops the jazz-rock, violin and trumpet and concentrates on
classic Italian symphonic prog. Notabene are not trying to replicate a 1972
album the way La Maschera di Cera have, as the sounds and production get at
least a few years more modern, but the inspiration is the same. There is a
16-minute suite followed by a 17-minute suite, and oh those vocals! It’s a
good time to be a fan of Italian progressive rock.
Nova
Malà Strana - NeMeSi ($15.99)1997 second album by this dark progressive rock band with female vocals from
Genoa, more symphonic than their debut.
Odessa -
Stazione Getsemani ($15.99)Odessa is a great Italian band with a 1999 CD but its heart deep in the
1970’s. They use Hammond organ, analog synths, piano, flute; they play covers of
tracks by The Trip and Il Rovescio della Medaglia; and their singer is heavily
influenced by Demetrio Stratos (Area). His voice is so strong and charismatic
that he could carry the material on his own, but he’s also the keyboardist and
makes sure the instrumental content is also a highlight. Odessa does have many
similarities to Area but are not nearly as jazzy or as experimental. One of the
best of the newer bands on the Mellow label.
Opus Avantra - Introspezione/Donella del Monaco ($16.99)This 1974 Italian progressive classic is alternately known as Introspezione
or Donella del Monaco (the name of their soprano singer). This first
album is their most accessible work, as their avant-garde leanings increased on
later albums. The music combines opera, neo-classical, and progressive rock in
sophisticated arrangements.
Le
Orme - Elementi ($14.99)After a period of dormancy, Le Orme returned to active duty in 1996 with Il Fiume,
followed in 2001 by Elementi. These albums demonstrate that Le Orme have lost
nothing since the 1970’s, that is unless you’re looking for the faux ELP of
their early albums. Instead, this is their rich, warm, lyrical, and unabashedly
romantic symphonic prog style, with lyrics in Italian. Lush Italian symphonic prog from one of the top progressive rock bands of all
time. Cover artwork by Paul Whitehead.
Osanna -
Milano Calibro 9 jewel box ($15.99)Osanna is one of the legendary Italian progressive bands. Milano Calibro 9 (1972) was Osanna’s 2nd album, the soundtrack to
the film of the same name. The album’s proper name is probably Preludio, Tema,
Variazioni, Canzona, but most call it by the name of the film. Their 1978 fifth album
Suddance saw a slight change in style to a type of jazz-rock
with vocals in the Neopolitan dialect. Still a good album but not on the same
level as Palepoli (their best work).
Overdrive
- The Human Machine ($9.99)
SALE!The Human Machine (1991) is the sole album by this Italian neo-prog
band, who also evoke the great Italian 1970’s bands (e.g., PFM, Banco, Quella Vecchia Locanda).
Paciana
Story - Opera Pop mini-LP ($20.99)This album was originally released as a private pressing LP in 1975. Two
musicians from the legendary Italian prog band Dalton were involved in this pop
opera, though it has nothing in common with Dalton musically. Paciana Story is a
concept album based on the life of a 19th century brigand who was sort of an
Italian Robin Hood. The music takes traditional Italian folk tunes and does them
up as soft prog songs, sung in Italian of course. Heavyweight gatefold
mini-LP sleeve with 8-page bilingual booklet.
Panna
Fredda - Uno ($16.99)The sole album by Panna Fredda is from 1971, right at the beginning of the
Italian progressive rock explosion. This is high quality progressive rock, the
keyboards dominated by organ, with some influences of the early English prog
bands such as Gracious. The two tracks from their first single are added as a
bonus.
Stefano Panunzi - Timelines ($15.99)
This outstanding 2005 debut by Italian keyboardist Stefano Panunzi was recorded
in Italy, Germany, the UK, and Japan, and features many guest musicians
including Mick Karn (Japan, Rain Three Crow), Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree,
Mick Karn), and Peter Chilvers (No Man, Henry Fool). This is highly-polished,
moody progressive music in the No Man, Porcupine Tree, and David Sylvian veins,
with detailed ambient textures and elements of jazz, about evenly divided
between songs (sung in English) and instrumentals. 65-minutes, digipack.
PFM -
Come Ti Va in Riva Alla Citta ($13.99)PFM’s 1981 album is from their pop phase. This is the Italian jewel case
edition on RCA.
Pictures - Painting the Blue ($9.99)
SALE!This 1996 Italian neo-prog album with English vocals is similar to 1990’s
English bands such as Threshold or Shadowlands, mixing hard rock into a neo-prog
base, with plenty of keyboard and guitar solos.
Presence - Gold ($15.99)