AMICO DI IERI

I should say in advance that actually I like this Italian band very much, especially their albums from 71-75, but as well their last two. This compilation contains tracks from their albums "Collage", "Uomo di pezza" (three each), two of "Smogmagica" and one each from "Contrappunti" and "Verità nascoste" plus the cheesy love song "Canzone d'amore". All songs recorded new with modern equipment. Actually a fine idea, if the result would sound better. But compared to what we're hearing here, I have to say I prefer much more to listen to the original recordings. Keyboards that are sounding cheesy and worse than Neoprog-ish and drums that are drowning the rest of the music. In fact I even would not recommend this album to die-hard fans, it's not only non- essential, it's superfluous!

This album rocks from begining to end, the new versions of the 70's material sound almost like a live album, not many re-recordings of same period music give the bombastic sound to each instrument including drums as in this album, the equilibrium between the old style with the new technology is a great simbiosis portrayed here, although many fans will consider the original recordings as best, that dosnt mean that it wont be good enough... for me is even a little more than enough, it's great and as good as ever with a new sound and fits it just fits very well, go buy it...

Like stated in another review, this is an album of re-recordings of Le Orme classical album tracks, made by the actual (as in 1997) line up of the band. But moving apart from that review, I find this album very satisfying and interesting. Here you have almost a "best of" (exception made for Felona e Sorona, with no track of that album in here) but with the addition of new arrangements and interpretation, so it's interesting even to the ones that already have the original records.

I can't complain about the sound, maybe because I'm from the neo-prog generation, even found some of the songs here better sounding than the original ones. For instance, "India" has a more richer instrumentation than in the "Contrappunti" album. Highlights for me are the versions of "Gioco di Bimba", "Cemento Armato", "India" and "La Porta Chiusa".

Previously to this one I only had Felona e Sorona, and this album made me investigate the rest of their discography. Very recommended to Le Orme newcomers!!

After making a splash with their comeback album "Il Fiume" and wowing the fans at Progfest '97, the reformed and suddenly revitalized LE ORME went back to the studio to record what could almost be called a tribute album to the band's own back catalogue. Eleven songs from their halcyon days were dusted off in all-new performances, putting a bright digital spit-shine on some now musty but still classic Italian Symphonic Rock, circa 1971 to 1976.

The pristine clarity of the new production is a joy to hear, but stubborn fans accustomed to the analog warmth of the original LPs may find it at times a little too sterile. That big, digital drum sound tends to overwhelm the lighter frequencies, for example in the stately "Una Docezza Nuove" (off the popular 1972 album "Uomo di Pezza") and the otherwise delicate title track (from "Smogmagica", 1975), which suffers considerable distress from the inappropriate arena-rock arrangement.

The good news elsewhere is that the gentle accordion and acoustic guitar charms of "Gioco di Bimba" and "Immensa Distesa" (again from "Uomo di Pezza" and "Smogmagica", respectively) not only survive unscathed but actually improve on the originals, revealing a wider scope of instrumental color and spatial depth. And the aptly-titled "India" (from the 1974 album "Contrapunti") finds a rich sitar and synth groove to plow for several atmospheric minutes.

But it's the early rockers off the proto-Prog 1971 "Collage" album that benefit most from the digital facelift. "Squardo Verso il Cielo" kicks off the new album with considerable punch, and the exhilarating "Cemento Armato", maybe the highlight of the whole retrospective exercise, comes to life in a thrilling piano solo by newcomer Francesco Sartori. These are songs that were always meant to be played loud, and the updated production revives them like a shot of undiluted adrenalin.

Two final observations...

The only studio album from the period not represented here is the sci-fi story of "Felona e Serona", and for good reason: an excerpt might have sounded odd if taken out of context from the original narrative.

And a decade after this collection was released it was superseded by an expanded, two-CD compilation, adding an entire disc revisiting the late-60s pre-Progressive roots of the band (see: "The Collection", 2008). But for anyone interested only in their classic Prog Rock highlights, this single CD would be well worth a search: it's a gift to older fans who kept the faith and a boon to newcomers looking for a modernized introduction to one of Italy's favorite acts.