IN CONCERTO: CIO' CHE SI VEDE È

This is a concert from a BANCO-reunion tour in '92, the line-up includes four original members. The crowd is very enthousiastic, now wonder because BANCO plays an inspired set, featuring lots of 'classics'. This DVD is not a pure concert because at some moments black-and-white images are shown (from nature to short early Seventies live footage). On one hand hand this creates a special atmosphere, on the other hand it's sometimes a bit disturbing.

The first track "Il Volo" contains black-and-white images from the soundcheck. Then, in color, we can enjoy the song "R.I.P.", singer Francesco Di Giacomo still has an impressive, very warm voice and the crowd goes wild. The second part evokes goose bumps when Francesco sings a bit melancholic, supported by compelling piano. The next composition "L'Evoluzione" starts with sumptuous keyboards, followed by a swinging rhythm, delivering swirling keyboards in the vein of Keith EMERSON ("Works-era"). "Moby Dick" is a ultra-sweet ballad from the later, more commercial period. The long and alternating track "Il Giardino Del Mago" includes virtuosic interplay, vocal harmonies, a wonderful intermezzo with classical piano and often Keith EMERSON-like keyboards, amazing! Next is "750.00 Anni Fa ... L'Amore, a captivating composition featuring sparkling keyboards, a warm piece with warm vocals and piano, again goose bumps. The final song is the catchy "Non Mi Rompete", it contains virtuosic interplay, this time with acoustic guitar and electric piano. In the end all kinds of figures from the famous Venetian carnaval enters the stage, what a splendid and spectacular conclusion from a magnificent performance by these skillful veterans from BANCO. A monumental DVD!!

Since I started to use Internet, my musical universe has expanded incredibly, about a decade ago I believed Italian Progressive started and ended with PFM, but with the years, forums and reviews I had the pleasure to discover a new world of incredible symphonic bands with the delicate touch that only Italians can give to music.

One of the bands I discovered in the late 90's is Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and didn't had the need to acquire the taste because it was love at first sight (or listen to be precise) The unique way in which they blend the powerful influences from the British giants without loosing their classic sound and sensibility always impressed me, to the point that Darwin! became one of my all time favorite albums.

But there was still something missing, I had to experience a concert of the band which are very hard to find, especially in this part of the world, but last week I went to a small music store that always has some hidden gems and the owner offered me at a reduced price "Cio Che Si Vede É" from the 1992 reunion, I bought it without doubt.

After a week of playing this DVD constantly, I'm absolutely impressed with it, great video quality and excellent sound, they mix black and white artistic clips containing images of the band since the early 70's with Banco del Mutuo Soccorso on stage in 1992, all done with a great artistic sense.

Talking about all the tracks would be unnecessary because they are well known and repeatedly reviewed in their respective albums, but a couple of them have really impressed me over the rest (even when all are excellent), and can't avoid witting a few lines about them.

The first one is "L'Evoluzione" from Darwin! where Vittorio Nocenzi shows how great he's playing keyboards, for some people he sounds very close to Keith Emerson which is true, but IMO his playing is even stronger than Keith's, at least in this album, simply outstanding, but that is only the beginning because Pier Luigi Calderoni on Drums and Tiziano Ricci on Bass are absolutely perfect and strong.

"Moby Dick" from Banco (1983) is a song that I always overlooked because saw it as a commercial ballad with less artistic value, but to be honest the interpretation in this DVD is very good, with a great performance of Rodolfo Maltese on guitars.

But the song that really captured me is "750.000 anni fa...l'amore?" from Darwin! This track can only be described as perfect, the incredibly beautiful voice of Francesco Di Giacomo blends incredibly well with the melancholic piano of Nocenzi, gives me goose bumps just to remember this wonderful song.

Despite the fact that they are older than in the golden years the quality is there, a must have for any progressive fan. Can't give them less than 5 stars.