...DI TERRA

"Banco" already released a full instrumental album. "Garofano Ross". But it was a soundtrack and could hardly be compared with this effort. I am really a fan of Francesco fantastic vocals and I have major problems to listen to a full instrumental "Banco".

If this was not enough, an orchestra is playing with the band during most of the tracks. I have NEVER been a fan of this mix of genre. My adventure with such effort started in 1972 when I was offered the orchestra "work" from Purple. I have not been able to enter into it. Later on BJH, Tull, Yes etc. will also share an "experience" with an orchestra. For me, it will always be the same boring feeling. Third and not least, this is album is also rather jazzy-oriented.

These are a mix of three ingredients that I can hardly stand. I just hope that "Banco" did enjoy their experience, because I couldn't. The exercise of trying to get into album was extremely painful. Very little good stuff available. What happened to "Banco". I could have been compliant with "Garofano" but with "...Di Tierra", there is absolutely no reason to do so.

There are extremely few good moments in here. Some aerial seconds during the second part of "Non Senza Dolore", maybe. But when you listen to "Io Vivo", this is just classical music. It does not really belong here (nor to "Banco" repertoire). Poor and hard to digest : this song goes nowhere (only some nice flute breaks saves this song from total disaster). Help !!!

"Ne Piu Di Un Albero Non Meno Di Una Stella" is the best that one will get. Nice piano intro combined with good and light guitar work. The whole of this song is very much piano oriented. Eight minutes of good music. that's not an awfull lot, right ? To be honest, the closing number is very melodic and beautiful.

"Banco" has never been a real fave of mine, but this album holds so little of their characteristics that I can unfortunately only use the one star rating for this "effort".