...DI TERRA

This album is quite the surprise. Just like most other fans I believe the vocals to be Banco's main asset, so I was obviously skeptic towards an instrumental album, an orchestral instrumental album to be precise, which alerted me even more as there are so few rock albums that integrate a symphonic orchestra successfully. On top, it is an album from 1978, a year better avoided when it comes to prog.

But Banco took the occasion to step outside of their comfort zone and created an album that would be a perfect fit in your RIO collection, right next to Art Zoyd and Univers Zero. There are even some touches of free jazz, Stravinsky rhythms, and on Io Vivo a hint of Mussorgsky. Apart from the occasional ELP-dash over the pianos there isn't much symphonic about this album. But the inspiration and creativity you expect from Banco is there, right along with dynamic and passionate performances.

Italy seems to have quite a few bands that managed to marry rock and symphonic orchestras. I already knew about Il Paese Dei Ballochi and Quella Vecchia Locanta, but now I can sure add Banco to that list of bands. Banco gracefully avoid the kitsch factor and the orchestral bombast that this sort of experiment so often leads to. So if you are in the mood for a top-quality RIO album that puts emotion and memorable compositions before experimentation then you should sure check this one out. 3.5 stars