From: borella@cs.ucdavis.edu (Mike Borella)
Newsgroups: alt.music.progressive
Subject: Italian article: part II
Date: 12 Oct 1992 14:47:36 -0500
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


The is the second of three parts of the article by Mike McLatchey

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			The Italian Scene - Part Two


Having covered most of the well known Italian bands (PFM, Banco, Le Orme,
Osanna, Citta Frontale, and Il Balletto Di Bronzo) in the article previous to
the interview, I will try to move into the more obscure realms in this second
part.  While the previously mentioned bands have all released classics amongst
their albums, many of the jewels of Italian progressive were one or two-shots -
bands who rose in the splendor of the scene and were lost to time by an
uncaring popular media.  Now reissued either in Italy or Japan, we can all
experience the wonders of many of these bands...

I should have included this band in the first part but I was in a hurry to
finish it and forgot them.  Soundtrack-experienced Goblin were one of the least
"Italian" sounding Italian bands and were probably closer in style to Mike
Oldfield or similar more explorative musicians.  Not one of my personal
favorites, since I am never enthralled with soundtracks, (execept for Popol
Vuh's "Aguirre" or Tangerine Dream's first two) Goblin were above all
interesting. Beginning with their first "Profundo Rosso"(1975) Goblin were
obviously better suited to soundtrack music than as a studio offering and the
majority of their work was in this vein.  One of the exceptions, their
excellent second "Roller"(1976) is a great blend of symphonic progressive and
horror-movie themes best on the lengthy track "Goblin."  Their best soundtrack
"Suspiria" (1977) was also a good movie and may be the best one to start with
mixing a variety of effects into a progressive whole - interesting music. Later
efforts, although I haven't heard their rare and unreissued 4th "Il Fantastico
Viaggio Del Bagarozzo Mark"(1978) were rather average including the soundtracks
Zombi (1978) and Dawn Of The Dead (1979).  Reissues of Goblin stuff may be
difficult or easy to find depending on where you are located.  The first three
mentioned have all been available on Japanese CD and "Rosso" and "Suspiria" are
also available in Italy.

Goblin also had a couple offshoots including the heavy Flea with their only
release "Topi O Uomini", a great album in which the intensity is never dulled.
Parallel to Flea was one-shot Cherry Five who also put out a very good
self-titled release.  Great symphonic progressive and a little closer to the
style of Goblin than Fleas, Cherry Five is still available on Japanese reissue
while the Flea album is reissued on CD in Italy.
 
Also unfortunately forgotten were the prolific New Trolls who's every release
was something different.  Most of these haven't been reissued in Italy yet
although their horrible 60's beat debut "Senza Orario Senza Bandeira" has as
has the well packaged "Concerto Grosso Per 1 & 2," complete with orchestration
and also resembling 60's music although more in the style of Hendrix or the
Moody Blues.  Their more symphonic albums are on the way to be reissued
including "UT" (which has been reissued) and offshoot New Trolls Atomic System
who's self titled is one of the best out of Italy ever and beginners may want
to wait on these guys until these two are available.  Parallel to the New
Trolls and Osanna is the band Nuova Idea who's first has been reissued "In The
Beginning." This Italian classical rock album includes a 20 minute cut.

One of my personal favorite Italian bands, bizarre Italian fusion band Area
have had their first four albums reissued on CD although the first two are
getting very hard to find (can any one tell me where I can order them on CD in
the US?)  All are classics of inventive Italian jazz rock fusion featuring the
stupendous vocalist Demetrio Stratos who may have been one of the most unique
singers in history.  Stratos unfortunately passed away so many years ago. Their
first four "Arbeit Macht Frei," "Caution Radiation Area", "Crac!" and
"Are(a)zione" are only recommended to the explorative but will reward the
listener with their uniqueness.

Fusion band Arti E Mestieri also has had their first two albums released on CD
and feature the talent of my vote for the best drummer ever - Furio Chirico.
Chirico is so dazzling that you may end up only listening to him if you buy
these.  Drummers must own these since I have never heard Bruford, Moerlen, or
Pip Pyle as impressive as this guy.  He literally riffs all the way through
these and are worth the money alone for the drumming although the music
complements him very well. The names - "Tilt!" and "Giro De Valzer Per Domani"
A posthumous live release is also available.

Chirico hails from the band The Trip who's fourth album "Time Of Change" is
graced by his presence.  The Trip, another three man classical rock band in the
realm of the Nice and Le Orme are maybe not as good as the latter but are
worthy of note.  Although Chirico is not on the first three, their middle two
are their best although are not personally my favorite type of progressive
music.  These, "Caronte" and "Atlantide" are recommended to ELP - Le Orme fans.

Another trio, although not really resembling the usual, is the band Formula 3
who's guitarist, Alberto Radius would go on to help form the great Il Volo.
Formula 3 put out four early albums which are all different in style.  Probably
the only one worthy of high praise is their third "Sognando E Risognando" a
highly inventive album who's styles are very diverse.

As mentioned, Formula 3 offshoot Il Volo were a great band with dual guitars
and keyboards.  Their self titled first was much in the style of PFM, with
great vocals and lush arrangements.  Their second "Essere O Non Essere, Essere,
Essere, Essere!" is a classic, blending the style from the first and adding a
fusion element that works brilliantly,  As with the Goblin albums, these are
very short yet concise works barely going over the 30 minute mark.

My personal favorite of all the Italian albums is Locanda Delle Fate's "Forse
Le Lucciole Non Si Amono Pui"  I mentioned this one in my ramblings yet the
album is so great that it needs mention again.  A one shot band that created a
style of progressive that was unique and underivative, one that is ethereal and
beautiful and one with dynamics that leave the listener in awe.  Many bands
come to mind, mostly the ones I have listed in my Italian articles yet none of
them come across as special as this one.  This one is truly a must and IMHO
surpasses anything to follow in the eighties.  Only available so far on
Japanese.

Two shot band Quella Vecchia Locanda were another one of those special ones,
that released two albums, their classic self-titled debut and "Il Tempo Della
Gioia"  Much like PFM yet with more of a violin presence, their classical
arrangements were rather overt yet worked beautifully making these musts for
Italian collectors. 

Another relatively well known Italian band is Il Rovescio Della Medaglia (RDM).
These guys released an album in English called Contamination which is taken
from their third album "Contaminazione", a classical rock album based on the
life and works of Bach.  This is a really good one, although nothing like their
first one, a heavy album without the keyboards on their later ones called "La
Bibbia" a concept work based on the early parts of the Bible.  Their second
album has not been reissued as of yet.

Another band only having been reissued in Japan is another trio called Latte E
Miele.  Their great first, an album called "Passio Secundum Mattheum" is in the
vein of Le Orme etc. but is much more varied and probably one of the best of
the genre.  Various styles are experienced and the resulting whole is very
rewarding. Their second was also reissued in Japan, "Papillon" - also very
good.  Both I believe are now out of print.  Lets hope they get reissued.

Another classical rock band, Metamorfosi were very short lived, only releasing
two albums, the average "...E Fu Il Sesto Giorno" and the classic "Inferno"
The latter featuring great use of the Moog as well as other amazing keyboard
work, the band puts together an album length suite that is one of the classics
in the history of symphonic progressive music.  A must.

Only in print in Japan is Celeste's "Principe Di Un Giorno" or just "Celeste"
as its released in Japan.  A heavily atmospheric work like very mellow "Per Un
Amico" era PFM, Celeste's lone release is a beautiful album with great sax and
flute and is one of those dreamy albums that is perfect to doze off to at
night.

Last for this episode, is the Hendrix-influenced Garybaldi featuring the
talents of guitarist extraordinaire Bambi Fossati.  Their only reissue to date
the album "Astrolabio" features two side long suites, both great cosmic jams
resembling none of the previously mentioned Italian bands, but just as
innovative. A must.

Thanks, 
Mike McLatchey

Xref: sparky alt.music.progressive:2910 rec.music.newage:3445 rec.music.misc:24812