SEGUENDO LE TRACCE

What an incredible live album. I bought this a Nearfest 2008, which a somewhat different Banco performed at. To tell the truth, I'm amazed at how much Banco haven't changed since this 1975 recording. Still filled with power, emotion, and great musical skill and dexterity. I'm not sure it will do me much good to do a song by song review, as every track is pretty much a highlight. I'd rather hear R.I.P. in the original Italian, but that is a small complaint and the song still works just as well (I don't speak or read Italian, but find myself drawn in to the natural beauty and emotional quality of the language and it's native speakers.....or in this case, singer). The La Danza Dei Grandi Rettili - Passaggio - Non Mi Rompete trio is absolutely sublime, with the last being probably the most beautiful rendition of that song I have yet heard from Banco. And, of course, the final track Metamorfosi being expanded to 26 + minutes is a wonder to behold. The extra length is not simply extending the song, but includes very interesting additional material like a section of ambient keyboards very much in the vein of Tangerine Dream, something I've never heard from Banco before.

Basically, this album is completely essential to anyone that likes Banco. It cost me 24 USD to buy this, and it was well worth every penny. I bought 8 other CD's at Nearfest, but it took a week to listen to any of the others as this CD would not leave my player. Unlike my fellow reviewers, I don't like to give live albums 5 stars, but this is as close as you can possibly get. A solid 4.5 stars for me, rounded down. But if you like Italian prog, Banco are the masters, the elder statesmen of RPI. Absolutely essential.