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GERMINALE

Rock Progressivo Italiano • Italy


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Germinale biography
Good band from Italy strongly influenced by the classic national bands. The music is thickly orchestrated and full of improvisation and shifting moods. The flute passages are a great feature. This new band is not a MARILLION and IQ clone but it's reminiscent of GENTLE GIANT and other British classic bands. Amazing to discover a band so deep in the 70's looking for their own style.

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GERMINALE discography


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GERMINALE top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.30 | 26 ratings
Germinale
1994
3.96 | 51 ratings
...E Il Suo Respiro Ancora Agita Le Onde?
1995
2.45 | 18 ratings
Cielo E Terra
2001

GERMINALE Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

GERMINALE Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

GERMINALE Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.33 | 14 ratings
Scogli Di Sabbia
2005

GERMINALE Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

GERMINALE Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Scogli Di Sabbia by GERMINALE album cover Boxset/Compilation, 2005
3.33 | 14 ratings

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Scogli Di Sabbia
Germinale Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars In 2001 Germinale released their third work on Mellow Records, ''Cielo & Terra'', that saw them offering a more Art Rock and less Italian Prog-oriented album, which dissapointed the fans worldwide.After some performances on compilation and tribute albums, Germinale released independently the album ''Scogli di sabbia'' in 2005, that worked more or less as a sum of their long and interesting career.

The first four tracks were all previously unreleased, featuring new female singer Sara Nannipieri, new drummer Mario Cuffaro and also a new bassist, Sebastiano Sacchetti.These tracks propably belong among the best of Germinale's repertoire.It's excellent modern Italian Prog, much more dynamic than most of the official ones, with a sound similar to compatriots CONQUEROR and several influences from the 70's tradition of the country.The musicianship is very rich yet melodious with light jazzy influences among the more melodic/symphonic passages, featuring excellent interplays between keyboards, piano and flutes and some awesome guitar lines.The nice and atmospheric vocals of Sara Nannipieri just strengthen the CONQUEROR comparisons.The style ranges from vintage-flavored Italian Prog with powerful breaks to atmospheric Progressive Rock with some nice synthesizer and deep bass work, really excellent stuff.

The next four pieces in line are three Genesis/Jethro Tull/King Crimson covers along with a track appearing in the ''Kalevala'' multi-band album a couple of years earlier, all of them though were previously released on tribute albums of the past.All covers are nicely executed with great respect to the original structures, decent English vocals and some good technique compared to the masters, especially ''Wond'ring Aloud'' from Jethro Tull really shines through.The ''Kalevala'' piece, ''La Battaglia per il Sampo'' is very close to mid-70's P.F.M., having strong symphonic, Fusion and Folk inspirations, led by its electroacoustic sound and the dominant flute parts, thus creating a sinister yet charming atmosphere.

The remaining seven pieces are all captured live, coming from the three previous official releases of the band.Even the ''Cielo & Terra'' tracks sound great here and the overall style ranges from rhythmic KING CRIMSON-esque Progressive Rock to smooth Classic Italian Prog with romantic vocals and sensitive musicianship.These pieces scan the whole Germinale history and are good examples of the band's development over the years.More detailed, the Prog fan will meet here compositions with mellow piano parts, light guitar moves and lyrical moments to more instrumental-inclined textures with a complex power and dark, groovy parts.

''Scogli di sabbia'' worked as a farewell album for Germinale, as the same year the band was put on ice, following an official site announcement.This is a very good compilation album and propably the place to start if you don't own any of the band's previous releases.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.

 ...E Il Suo Respiro Ancora Agita Le Onde? by GERMINALE album cover Studio Album, 1995
3.96 | 51 ratings

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...E Il Suo Respiro Ancora Agita Le Onde?
Germinale Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars After the debut of Germinale drummer Matteo Amoroso abandoned the band for good.In the meantime Mellow Records asked the band to participate in two different tribute albums, one for Genesis and one for Van Der Graaf Generator, both of them were released in 1995.Between the two releases keyboardist Gabriele Guidi decided to move on with his metal act Athena and guitarist Saverio Barsali also quit to be replaced by Andrea Moretti and Salvo Lazzara respectively.In September 95' Germinale returned to the studio to record what was meant to become the band's sophomore work ''...E il suo respiro ancora agita le onde...'', released in early 1996.

The addition of the new members seems to have breezed some fresh air to Germinale's sound.While the style of the Italians hasn't changed significantly, the overall approach sounds more energetic and passionate, always supported by smoother symphonic moments but now displayed with also plenty of uptempo passages and a heavier dose of dynamics.The folkier PFM-like influences are still present, interpreted by instrumental textures based on the soft use of flutes, the sensitive voice of Alessandro Toniolo and the acoustic guitars, delivering calm and relaxing soundscapes.But there are also strong and emphatic Progressive Rock explosions in the best Italian tradition, like on ''1° Maggio'' with fantastic flute drives and great shifting moods aking to DALTON, DELIRIUM and OSANNA, while ''Le onde, respiro del mare'' contains some very nervous synth performances, heavy and crunchy guitars and tons of changing tempos and ''Avant - Grado'' combines the folky side of Germinale with the more energetic side of the group, flirting with DEUS EX MACHINA's style and featuring impressive guitar playing, rich Hammond organ and a furious rhythm section.The only track of the album featuring English lyrics is the closing ''Meurglys III (The Songwriters Guild)'', possibly the best piece included in this album.Atmospheric 70's-influenced Progressive Rock with a very dark atmosphere somewhere between VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR, KING CRIMSON and GENESIS with outlandish work on organs, flutes and piano alternating between psychedelic and demanding instrumental themes to go along with a very expressive vocal performance.

Germinale's second offering is definitely an improvement over the nice debut of the group.More balanced and diverse, this work can please all fans of retro-sounding Progressive Rock with a strong Italian flavor...3.5 stars.

 Germinale by GERMINALE album cover Studio Album, 1994
3.30 | 26 ratings

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Germinale
Germinale Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by toroddfuglesteg

3 stars Saving the planet by reusing the old RPI sound.

Germinale only released three studio albums in their short career. This is their debut album. When other new RPI bands refined and developed the RPI sound from the golden 1970s, Germinale confined themselves to faithfully replicate this sound. Germinale has taken big chunks out of bands like PFM, Banco, Biglietto, Celeste + British bands like Genesis + Gentle Giant.

The result is pleasing though. The band is more than competent to carry this through. The songs are good. The instruments are the usual flute, bass, guitars, tangents and drums. This in addition to Italian vocals. As I said; pleasing. But nothing more than that. I like this album, but in small dosages. This album does not bring anything new to the scene, but still........

3 stars

 ...E Il Suo Respiro Ancora Agita Le Onde? by GERMINALE album cover Studio Album, 1995
3.96 | 51 ratings

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...E Il Suo Respiro Ancora Agita Le Onde?
Germinale Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by andrea
Prog Reviewer

5 stars Germinale were formed in Pisa in 1991 and their name was inspired by an Emile Zola's novel. After an interesting but still immature eponymous debut album in 1994 and some line up changes, in 1996 they released on the independent label Mellow Records what is reputed their best work so far and one of the best Italian prog records of the nineties, "...e ancora il suo respiro agita le onde..." (And his breath is still moving the waves). The line up here features Salvo Lazzara (electric guitar, devices, vocals), Marco Masoni (vocals, bass, classical and acoustic guitars, mellotron), Andrea Moretti (piano, Hammond, moog, synthesizers), Alessandro Toniolo (flute, sax, vocals) and David Vecchioni (drums, percussion). The overall sound is rich and inspired, in the best tradition of Italian prog rock while the beautiful art cover by Marta Bibbiani tries to capture the explosion of colours coming out from the music...

The short opener "Il già sentito e il non ancora" (The already heard and the not yet) is introduced by the sound of sea waves and seagull calls. Then, from a delicate acoustic guitar pattern soars a peculiar invocation... "We forgive you, Euterpe, for bringing us up here / Goddess of music, lyric poetry and flute / We ask you now to let us use your regenerating pathos...".

Next comes the long and complex "1° maggio" (May Day), subtitled "dialogue between a worker and a warrior". It was inspired by an essay written in 1934 by the French philosopher Simone Weil about the reasons of freedom and social oppression, "Réflexions sur les causes de la liberté et de l'oppression sociale". Dreamy and reflexive passages alternate with aggressive and dynamic parts underlying the contrast between the dreams of freedom and equality of the worker and the angry and disdainful reaction of the warrior, symbol of the power... "My resistance compels you to think about equality / I've always had to work but I want to do it with dignity... I know the revolt of the oppressed / It explodes only at times but it's always bubbling / And it increases your pain if it forces me to use my power...". A wonderful track!

"D'ombra, vapori e sabbia" (About shadow, steams and sand) is an excellent instrumental in three parts. The first one is dominated by keyboards, the second one features swirling flute passages soaring from a drum solo pattern while the last one is driven by an ethereal guitar solo. It could be a perfect soundtrack for an adventure in the desert...

"Eleonora" is a nice instrumental featuring delicate acoustic guitar patterns. It leads to "Le onde, il respiro del mare" (The waves, breathing of the sea), a complex and dramatic piece in two parts. Lyrics are freely taken from "Alkestis", a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke inspired by ancient Greek mythology. The atmosphere is dark, recitative vocals tell a gloomy story... A diabolic messenger appears as an uninvited guest to a nuptial banquet announcing that the groom has to die, on the spot!. The unlucky man implores, asks for mercy, asks for more time, a year, a day, even just one more night! No way, the task of the messenger is clear... Sometimes the music is powerful and flows like a raging river, every now and again it stops and gives way to unquiet dreams while the groom is carried away by the river of despair. Every effort to grip the rocks is vain, the poor man is swallowed by the obscure sea of predestination. Eventually... "The messenger got up and walked into the water / He sank himself in victory / And his breath is still moving the waves...".

"Diòniso inquieto" (Restless Dionysus) is a melancholic track describing in words and music the way of spending the time in the youth. "Another exciting suicide to rejoice boring dusks...". Lyrics tell about nights wasted in fake happiness during parties and bike rides but also of nights spent in a more bucolic and pensive way, stretched out on a lawn watching the stars, tasting the pleasures of mother nature...

"Malcreanza" (Bad behaviour) is a nervous track featuring many influences (from Jethro Tull to jazz, from bossa nova to Jean Michel Jarre). Visionary lyrics depict a smoking heart thrown to the winds and a desperate wondering under the stars... "I'm still loosing me / I do not talk very much / I never ask for explanations / I discuss to understand / The sea around us where we have to swim towards cliffs of sand helps us to ride the tiger of life...".

"D'io" (Of me) begins softly, just a guitar arpeggio and a voice taken from a radio broadcast... Then recitative vocals begin to declaim a long list of useless things like heavy drugs, light words, football matches, obsequious waiters, complete scores, human flies, counted hours... All things that you can do without!

"Avànt ? grado" is an excellent long and complex track. The music begins calmly with a swirling flute and a dreamy atmosphere. Lyrics were inspired by the character of Peter I "The Great" Romanov. The title is a mix between the French word "avant-garde" and Leningrad, the Soviet name of Saint Petersburg. There is no judgement about the "modernist despotism" of Peter I but a reflection about "a revolution from above", directed by the Tsar of Russia... "It's the energy of desire for concreteness... The vanguard and the complete renovation of the costumes...".

"In Aeternam Veritas" (The truth in the eternal) is a short and dreamy guitar instrumental that concludes a beautiful album. The re-release on CD features also as a bonus track the cover of "Meurglys III (The songwriter's guild)", originally recorded for a tribute to Van Der Graaf Generator released by Mellow Records.

 Germinale by GERMINALE album cover Studio Album, 1994
3.30 | 26 ratings

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Germinale
Germinale Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars The long-aged tradition of Italian symphonic rock with a definite folk/mediterrenean taste continues through the 90's with GERMINALE...a band found in 1991 in the city of Pisa.Although starting their career as a cover band,GERMINALE soon focused on composing their own material and the result of these efforts was taped on their self-titled album,released in 1994,at a time when progressive rock was returning back strong in Italy.

There's not much guitar-oriented stuff to be found in here,as the band's sound is strongly based on flutes,organ and piano.Certainly having symphonic leanings,GERMINALE present also a heavy tendency on pastoral musicianship with nice flutes dominating here and there.Vocals ,where added,are quite good, supported by sensational grooves and some HACKETT-like electric guitars,but often limited,giving space to the interactions between the strong rhythm section and organist/pianist Gabriele Guidi.Generally this is a light symphonic release with straight comparisons to the 70's Italian scene,especially P.F.M., CELESTE, MADRUGADA or REALE ACCADEMIA DI MUSICA.A well-crafted work,which could be of great interest for fans of symphonic progressive rock!

 ...E Il Suo Respiro Ancora Agita Le Onde? by GERMINALE album cover Studio Album, 1995
3.96 | 51 ratings

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...E Il Suo Respiro Ancora Agita Le Onde?
Germinale Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars This album from the Italian band GERMINALE is great example of modern Italian progressive music. Released in 1995 this is their second recording. This is a very proggy album filled with lots of tempo and mood shifts. Flute, piano and acoustic guitar are prominant yet there are many aggressive passages as well. Vocals are in Italian by the way.

"Il Gia Sentito E Il Non Ancora" is a short intro track with the sounds of waves and seagulls. Acoustic guitar and synths are followed by vocals. Very tranquil and beautiful. "Maggio" opens with flute as drums then organ joins in. Guitar comes in as it settles before a minute. Vocals arrive with piano. This all sounds beautful. It kicks back in with aggressive vocals. It settles again as flute leads the way. Organ 4 1/2 minutes in followed by reserved vocals and a calm. The contrasts continues. Just a great track. "D'Ombra,Vapori E Sabbia" is uptempo with piano and some excellent drum work. Organ and bass standout as well. Ok the drummer is showing off again 3 minutes in. Check out the guitar before 4 minutes as the piano tinkles away. I like the way they just seem to jam right to the end. Another good one !

"Eleonora" is a beautiful song with the rain coming down as acoustic guitar melodies are played throughout. Nice. "Le Onde, Respiro Del Mare" begins ominously before strummed guitar and bass take over. Drums come in then some loud synths. Spoken vocals 1 1/2 minutes in as they "rock out" behind him. A sudden calm 3 minutes in as acoustic guitar is played. Piano, flute then organ follow as the sound builds. Drums come pounding in and the guitar is soloing. Another calm as waves and seagulls can be heard again with piano. The tempo and mood shifts continue in this song. It ends ominously just like it began. Imressive. "Dioniso Inquieto" is my favourite song on here. The gentle guitar and vocals are simply breathtaking. Piano 1 1/2 minutes in joined by some tasteful electric guitar. Gorgeous track. "Malcreanza" opens with some Fripp-like guitar melodies that are very intricate as drums pound away. Synths come in followed by chunky bass. Vocals 2 minutes in. We get a jazzy interlude after 4 minutes which is a nice touch. Flute before 5 minutes. "D'io" is interesting with this man telling a story in English about the bars in California as acoustic guitar plays along. Spoken vocals take over as mellotron rolls in before 2 minutes. Our Englishman is back before it ends.

"Avant-Grado" opens with piano and flute. Synths followed by drums and a fuller sound.Vocals then arrive. The tempo picks up after 3 minutes with some killer organ. The contrasts continue between bombasic and pastoral. "In Aeternum Veritas" made me laugh the first time I heard it because our English gentleman is back telling stories as acoustic guitar plays along in this 1 minute track. This song (and album) ends with waves and seagulls just like it began. The bonus song is a cover of VDGG's "Meurglys III (The Songwriter's Guild)". These guys nail it ! Mellotron to opens is a nice touch, but it's the powerful organ and Hammill-like vocals that make this work perfectly.

Easily 4 stars, and another great modern Italian release.

 Cielo E Terra by GERMINALE album cover Studio Album, 2001
2.45 | 18 ratings

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Cielo E Terra
Germinale Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

1 stars I am a huge football fan.

So what, would you tell me. What's the point ? What's the relation between football and this "Germinale" album?

Well, for me there is one since tonight.

About two hours ago, I was attending the clash between my beloved club (Anderlecht) against my favourite English team (Tottenham). On the way to the game (which took me almost two hours to drive some twenty-five KM), I was listening to some music of course.

I listened for the third time in two days to this album. On the way back home, there were still some tracks to listen to (some seven or eight). My seventeen old years son was sitting on my side told me after ten minutes or so: "What's this c**p" ?

I was so surprised, and fully in accordance that I thought: "Listen son, your wasting time; there's a future for you in the fire escape trade. Come up to town!". I swear I thought of these words immediately and I promised him to mention this anecdote when posting my review of this album.

This is a pretty weak work. Nothing to remember in terms of melody, great instrumental part, beautiful Italian prog music, inventive or creative stuff.

No, nothing as such. Pure boredom. I have never been enthusiast with spoken lyrics (except in Jeff Wayne's "The War Of The Worlds"). This one is pitiful.

To avoid harsher words, I would just tell you : stay away from this one. Poor, poor, poor (instead of six, six, six . sweet rock'n'roll.). The worse of their career and one of the poorest Italian prog offering. And you know how much I praise this genre.

One star. Nothing more.

 ...E Il Suo Respiro Ancora Agita Le Onde? by GERMINALE album cover Studio Album, 1995
3.96 | 51 ratings

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...E Il Suo Respiro Ancora Agita Le Onde?
Germinale Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

3 stars After having listened to the short opener "Il 'Gia Sentito' e Il 'Non Ancora" all the hopes for a great album are allowed. Examples of such a good and short intro are not frequent. To be able to captivate within hundred seconds is not an easy task.

The same nice feeling prevails during most of "Maggio", but bizarrely it will change from style a few times and it will be mixed with harder parts. These sounds are rather strange to me since they were not featured on their debut album. During these moments, vocals are almost distorted, too raw. Some production problem ? Maybe. It ends up in a jazzy party.

The band already showed some tendency towards the jazzy flavours in their first album and they will build on this for "E Il Suo Respiro". This is put evenmore into evidence during "D'Ombra, Vapori E Sabbia". This song is rather difficult to bear for me. Improvisation is the closest word to define it. A useless drum solo opens a more classic finale. The poorest song of the album.

The sound of their debut can be found again during the instrumental "Eleonora". Acoustic and fully early "Genesis" influenced. A pleasant break.before the powerful, scary and complex "Le Onde, Respiro Del Mare". Very much "Crimson" or even "VDGG" oriented. It is a combination of heavy riffs with a melodic and symphonic interlude as middle part. A very elaborated song and one of the best of this album.

The band will switch again to a very peaceful and fully symphonic track this time with "Dioniso Inquieto". A peaceful track and a pleasant way to break the hard and complex songs format available. The band will propose some diversified music on this album. The listener has again a rendez-vous with the jazzy side of their work ("Malcreanza"). Not bad but frankly it is not as such that I mostly like "Germinale".

The last two numbers are quite good as well. The personal "Avant-Grado" features some strong keys and heavy beats on the one hand but combined with melodic and pastoral passages on the other. All of "Germinale" in one song. It is also one of the highlight. Their cover of "Meurglys III" ("VDGG") is excellent as well. Shorter than the original and avoiding the reggae-ish, repetitive and long finale.

If you are a "Banco" fan, no doubt that you will like this album very much. To my ears it sounds as a good album. Three stars.

 Germinale by GERMINALE album cover Studio Album, 1994
3.30 | 26 ratings

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Germinale
Germinale Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by kenethlevine
Special Collaborator Prog-Folk Team

2 stars GERMINALE is a modern Italian band with unquestionable talent, whose influences tend towards the early 1970s classic Italian bands - a bit of PFM, Banco, Celeste, as well as the big British bands. This is a promising debut but, while passages show occasional independent flourishes, the songs themselves rarely hold my interest, and the mood swings are irrational. One of the few that is consistent is "Guardiano Dei Cieli", which reminds me of Franco Battiato somehow. The lengthiest track "La Strega" also has good energy and some cohesion, and Bruma is a good instrumental. "Lo Sguardo Nello Specchio" is has hot organ and flute interactions, but then the quality drops off for the most part. Another similar band in time, but ultimately with more compelling songs and melodies, is Foglie di Vetro, which released only one album in 1996. 2.5 stars rounded down because it probably doesn't have any tracks that would even be in my Italian top 100. Nice, but not nice enough.
 Germinale by GERMINALE album cover Studio Album, 1994
3.30 | 26 ratings

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Germinale
Germinale Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Germinale is a pretty symphonic CD, reminiscent of Genesis from the "Trespass" era. No wonder that they will cover "The Knife" from the masters.

The album starts with a pretty weird and short intro track (18 seconds - what's the use of this ???). Second track "La Strega" is very good but this CD really starts with the beautiful & melodic instrumental "Bruma - Quietesmo" which is quite ... quiet. Very classical & calm : to be listened to when you're angry to calm down.

Next track, "Lo Sguardo Nello Specchio" is built crescendo : slow intro with vocals & piano in the foreground growing faster after 90 seconds or so. The middle section contains some "Gabrielesque" flute passages which are quite nice to listen to. This track is probably one of the best constructed of this CD.

"Soffi Sonori" is a very pleasant track that combines melody and jazzy impro (à la VDGG who they will cover on their second album). This is a good illustration of Germinale's music : complex but melodious.

The next three songs are not so interesting but not bad either. Three stars for this very accessible album.

Thanks to ProgLucky for the artist addition. and to NotAProghead for the last updates

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