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IO E IL TEMPO

Nuova Era

Rock Progressivo Italiano


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Nuova Era Io E Il Tempo album cover
3.58 | 71 ratings | 11 reviews | 42% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 1992

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Io e il Tempo (18:50) :
- a. Al passato
- b. Meditazione
- c. Io Bambino
- d. Impietoso Scorrere
2. Domani Io Vecchio (24:40) :
- a. Verita in uno Specchio
- b. Il Mago dell'Eternita
- c. Smarrirsi nella Realtą
- d. Tra l'Immagine di un Dio
- e. Riflessioni dell'Essere

Bonus track on 1992 CD release:
3. Nuova Era (2:24)

Total Time: 45:54

Line-up / Musicians

- Alex Camaiti / electric & acoustic guitars, vocals
- Walter Pini / keyboards, Hammond, voice, composer
- Enrico Giordani / bass
- Gianluca Lavacchi / drums

With:
- Ivan Pini / lyrics
- Betty Cardelli / flute

Releases information

Artwork: Salvatore Maccioni

LP Contempo Records ‎- 7809771 (1992, Italy)

CD Contempo Records ‎- Contedisc 181 (1992, Italy) With a bonus track

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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NUOVA ERA Io E Il Tempo ratings distribution


3.58
(71 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(42%)
42%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(37%)
37%
Good, but non-essential (15%)
15%
Collectors/fans only (0%)
0%
Poor. Only for completionists (4%)
4%

NUOVA ERA Io E Il Tempo reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by erik neuteboom
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars This was the third album from the fine Italian progrock band Nuova Era. Their debut CD "L'ultimo viaggio" sounded promising but a bit precarious, their second "Dopo l'infinito" strong but very ELP inspired.

My first session with "Io e il tempo" evoked good feelings, I quickly took the conclusion that Nuova Era had delivered their best work: what a pleasant climates and what a beautiful compositions! The album contains two long tracks, very tasteful and alternating, from dreamy to powerful and bombastic. The sound of the guitar and keyboards is wonderful, the duels are good and we also can enjoy many strong soli on guitar and keyboards. The vocals are distinctive but on the background, in general Nuova Era makes instrumental music. The final song is a short bonustrack. This is a CD to discover, FORZA ITALIA!

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars This record consists of two side long suites like the previous album, in fact it's pretty similar to the previous album but just not as good.

"Io E Il Tempo" starts off with church bells as a monologue in Italian joins in. Organ comes in after a minute then the song kicks in. A calm with organ follows as drums join in then mellotron and guitar. Great sound 3 minutes in. It settles again as vocals come in. The song continues to shift and change. Check out the guitar 7 minutes in ! Love the vocals that follow. Keyboards are next to impress and they continue for the next several minutes. More great vocals 14 1/2 minutes in. Flute before 16 minutes as the organ floats. Solo bass follows as keys and drums join in. Guitar lights it up.

"Domani Io Vecchio" opens with pulsating keys with drums that build. Guitar starts to play over top. It settles with piano after 2 minutes, fragile vocals join in. Both the vocals and sound get more passionate. Nice. The contrasts continue. The tempo picks up around 6 minutes. Silence before 7 1/2 minutes then it starts to build again including reserved vocals. Organ 10 minutes in. Drums then guitar join in as vocals follow. Some beautiful guitar after 16 minutes that comes and goes. Mellotron as it settles while the guitar continues. The music stops 23 minutes in as spoken words and piano end it.

A solid 4 stars.

Review by silvertree
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Sorry, but I don't think there is much improvement in this album compared with their second. They are still over the place. The drummer reminds me of the Who ! The bonus track only lasts a little over two minutes. I would never have thought Nueva Era capable of making a short track ! Anyway the bonus track really rocks and could be used as a sort of anthem representative of italian symphonic rock ! Very interesting album to get. I rate this album 3 stars and applaude their resistance to singing in English.
Review by Sean Trane
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk
3 stars 3.5 stars really!!!

Third and second last (to my knowledge anyway) album of this second generation of Italian prog bands, and maybe the first and most highly regarded of the second wave of prog. The fact that this quartet was borne out of the dreaded 80's is no hint as to its sound, even if there are some inherent technologies that couldn't be avoided, NE is more of a retro-prog band than a neo-prog band, and in some lengthy moments, you could believe that these guys were of Scandinavia's AnglaDotenBerk trilogy. Graced with a very "proggy" artwork both on the outside and inside of the gatefold, the album's concept (titled I And Time) consist of two "epics" (like the previous Dopo L'Infinito) which have definite charms that should not elude the more demanding progheads, even if by their third album, they are a little formulaic in their aesthetics.

Just two tracks (at least the third says it is a bonus), of which the 19-min title track can only enchant you, sounding like Genesis, Yes, full of vintage instruments (including good old organs) and full-dramatics. The 24-min Domani Io Vieccho (Tomorrow I Age/Grow Old) is a bit more of the same, and most progheads should be ravished. The Bonus eponymous track is mostly a non-harpsichord

But not everything is fine, as the band does present a few well-hidden weaknesses, like lack of real interplay and soloing each in turn. While displaying great talent and excellent potential, the band seems content in taking the easy way out (maybe by fear of over-stretching themselves) and not risking enough. As if being better than IQ and Pendragon was sufficient for them and taking early-Marillion as a calibration parameter. I dare say hiring a sax-flutist that could've played a bit of cello could've broken them big artistically.

Although this reviewer is usually not a fan of the mid-80's to early-90's symph prog, I must say that Nuova Era makes a rather pleasant exception to the Trane rule of thumb, but ultimately not entirely satisfying either. I feel that unfortunately they could've (should've) tried harder, but ultimately didn't dare enough. Easier said than done, though!! Not a four star, but recommended, this one or (but not and) its predecessor.

Review by ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars I quite liked their two prior albums (but more the later ''Dopo L'Infinito''). Of course, when it comes to vintage Italian symphonic, I am often charmed and laudatory, so.Since I am heading fifty, there are little chances that I'll change my mind on such a fine album as ''Io E Il Tempo''.

Although this work fully falls under the symph category, it also features some weird and intricate passages which can relate the band with Crimson. It is particularly true during the first section of the title track.

The music even sounds wild at times. The strong keys are wonderfully sustained by an excellent drumming and a serious bass work as well. Actually, each musician fits his role perfectly and the whole is really shining in this wonderful epic.

This track is an excellent example of what the genre has to offer to its fans (but not only). Every proghead should be attracted by these fine sounds and distinctive vocals. The Italian language is just so beautiful to my ears (maybe because of my Latin origins.) and when it is combined with many emotions, I just succumb. ''Io E Il Tempo'' is almost nineteen minutes of pure joy.

And let me tell you that the writer of this review is just as excited about the second epic available here: ''Domani Io Vecchio''. It starts as a fine ''Genesis'' track and holds so much passion! I was of course almost convinced before having listened to this album but this musical experience is soooo moving.

The interest of ''Domani..'' is not of the same level as the title track IMO. A bit longuish and less inspired after ten minutes. But the band gets back to better moods when the formidable guitar solo enter the scene after sixteen minutes or so. From then onwards, the magic operates once again and it only stops when the track finishes.

This album is such a great gift from this band. It surely deserves your attention IMHHO. Great symphonic music for symphonic lovers. I think I do belong to the definition. Four stars.

Review by apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars After the two back-to-back albums,it was time for Nuova Era to focus more on their live appearances.So for about two years they gave many shows,before they entered again the studio to record their third album.This one was entitled ''Io e il tempo'' and was released again on Contempo Records, both in CD and LP versions, in 1992.

The band decided to follow the same structure as with ''Dopo l'infinito'',this means the album contains two long Symphonic Rock suites,clocking at 18 and 24-min. respectively.Musically nothing has changed.Both compositions contain a great number of sudden breaks,complex themes,virtuosic keyboard work and intense vocals.The music again is mostly based on Walter Pini's great skills on organs and synths: Baroque-influenced parts, intricate solos, marching synthesizers and background fillings for the guitars,along with some light piano interludes.Still the electric sound remains a basic part of Nuova Era's sound with both rockin' and melodic moments.Two very tight,well-played and cohesive compositions,a trademark of the band,which made them among the biggest names of the 90's Italian Prog scene.But as with ''Dopo l'infinito'',the albums lacks the fair amount of romantic moments of their debut,thus making ''Io e il tempo'' a great prog seminar,but not a very atmospheric or emotional album. There is also a short yet lovely instrumental bonus track at the end,carrying the name of the band and performed on harpsichord by Pini,which I like a lot.

''Io e il tempo'' is not as good as Nuova Era's debut,but still is a slight improvement over their sophomore effort.Nevertheless,there were a few bands out there around the time,who could compete with this Italian beast.Strongly recommended and a great discovery for fans of Symphonic Rock with some virtuosic performances...3.5 stars.

Review by Finnforest
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Much improved over the second album

Nuova Era was an important and acclaimed bridge band, one who kept the scene going during the difficult 80s and early 90s. While their first two albums have their supporters it is on "Io e il tempo" where Nuova Era really spring to life. This concept album is about the passage of time and stages of life, and Walter Pini told ProgArchives that it was a step forward musically for the band. "Finally an album that we recorded with the real seventies sounds we loved so much. Here I could play a real Hammond and a real baby grand piano. Keyboards with sampled sounds were definitely improved if compared with the ones of the eighties and the studio was a 24-track."

You can really hear the difference! The sound quality and the "depth" of sound is so much improved here. The organ sounds like an organ should, the piano is great, and there is a good use of flute and a more refined, typical RPI sound. This is their first that sounds like an RPI album to me, though it still sports some of the neo-prog influence almost impossible to dodge in those years. Just as important, the composition is much improved on this one. The two long suites sound more cohesive, more developed, and to my ears are easily more satisfying. The opening is fantastic, with ticking clocks, church bells, and dramatic spoken word narration leading into a spooky Jacula-like goth organ....now that's an RPI opening! Here the pace and "feel" of the song development flow much better, with ideas coming and sounding like they belong, rather than the "all over the map" feel of the previous album. Smokin' guitar leads continually challenge Pini's synth and organ runs, with guitarist/vocalist Alex Camaiti really upping his performance. Melody and complexity are both more abundant, and as mentioned there is an injection of flute for another color. There are beautiful pastoral moments but there are also some exciting unpredictable moments like when a harpsichord sound comes in at blazing speed trying to challenge the guitars leads, then a few seconds later it strolls into a very dry interlude with sad acoustic guitar and this great "old" keyboard sound, sounding like a ghost, full of melancholy, it was wonderful stuff. I think the fact that they had two years of gigging between the second and third album helped this band gel. The second half in particular becomes engaging as the band builds emotion with huge keys and fiery guitar, then it stops and tacks on a nice bit of piano and spoken narration again to close the album.

Certainly a good album recommended for RPI fans, but they would reach their summit with the next one. Their fourth album featured a progression in sound that was heavier and songwriting that improved as well. 3 - 3 ½ stars.

Review by Warthur
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Nuova Era's third album still finds them in a rather ELP-influenced phase, much like on their second album - indeed, the structure of two sidelong epics is repeated again this time around. And, once again, it's keyboardist Walter Pini's playing which completely dominates proceedings this time around. I would say as far as attempts to reclaim the ELP sound in an RPI context go, it's a little more successful than the previous album, but there's really little to choose between them except that I think this time around the production is a little tighter; if you liked one, you'll like the other
Review by b_olariu
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Third album from 1992 named Io e Il tempo from second generation of Italian prog bands Nuova Era is considerd among the best from that period aswell. Well, to tell the truth this one is in same league as previous one, same 2 long tracks, same attitude and same manner of composing. Yes, here are some quite excellent instrumental sections, where the guitar and keyboards are predominat , specially on second track Domani Io Vecchio, very nice duels between guitar and keyboards, and ok voice. Even I considered this album good for sure, I kinda like more previous one, anyway this has elaborated passages that every fan of prog music can enjoy. Nueva Era was a band in that period that was in their peak of their career, many bands from today from italian prog music are influenced by them, as they were influenced by those before them as Premiat or Banco. Another worthy album that desearves better recognition world wide. 4 stars again.

Latest members reviews

4 stars 3.75 stars really. I can't say why precisely, but I don't like this album quite as much as the last one. It is the exact same format, 2 large scale epics. It is the exact same style, 70's Italian symphonic. Same band members, same lyricist. So what is different. Well, it just seems to me ... (read more)

Report this review (#123249) | Posted by infandous | Thursday, May 24, 2007 | Review Permanlink

4 stars I don't know why this album is not reviewed here. All the 4 albums from Nuova Era are Excellents/Essentials and I love this one particularly. Track 2 is a masterpiece of symphonic progressive rock with great guitar and keyboards. 4 stars and a half, highly recommended. ... (read more)

Report this review (#5196) | Posted by | Tuesday, October 12, 2004 | Review Permanlink

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