INTEGRATI... DISINTEGRATI

Franco Leprino, a rather obscure artist in the '70s Italian prog scene, released only this one album, Integrati... Disintegrati, which has gone most unnoticed - such a shame considering that this album is so heartbreaking in its beauty that I feel the need to suggest this to anyone who is at all interested in Italian prog, electronic or not.

This album is two long form compositions, each taking up an entire side. "Lalo A" begins with lightly swelling electronic drones and soft repetitive nylon string guitar playing that is reminiscent of the texture applied by fellow Italian prog band Il Paese Dei Balocchi. The guitar motif repeats as the electronic drone in the background swells larger and becomes more symphonic until is takes up most of the listening space and finally fades off into the distant, allowing for a jovial classical piano moment before spacey electronic density takes over. Finally, before finishing, classical piano makes another entrance as do multiple other instruments in a very classical manner. This whole side is very dramatic and beautiful in a most enlightening way.

"Lalo B" has many of the same ethereal and uplifting elements as the previous side, but is overall much more avant-garde. It starts off with a beautiful guitar loop over simple electronics, but the electronic element takes over in an almost dissonant and Messiaen- esque kind of way (if you're a Messiaen fan, as I am, then there's no reason to complain). Again, it breaks off into another echoed guitar passage with lightly ringing electronic backdrop that is atmospheric like looking down an endless, dimly lit hallway. Eventually drama is increased and the track becomes heavily symphonic and heavenly, beautiful nylon string guitars reprise the wonderful motif, the track ends and the resulting feeling of bliss is all consuming.

Definitely not ambient, but the relaxing effect of Integrati... Disintegrati is basically the same. The difference is that, to most people, this album will probably be thoroughly more engaging than something like Steve Roach's work. Fans of the '70s Italian progressive rock scene will be very comfortable with the tonality of this album and all of the instrumentation. This is a very chill album, but I feel very confident that anyone with patience and an ear for beauty will find Integrati... Disintegrati to be a very delightful experience. A strong must-have in the '70s one-and-done Italian prog elite.

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