PROCESSION

Procession is one of my favorite bands, so when I heard that a 1972 concert had been found and remastered by Beppe Crovelle, I was thrilled! The date is 9 January 1972, and the venue is Lio Club. The concert was recorded by the first incarnation of the band, featuring three of the five members who would go on and record their first album, masterpiece Frontiera, eight months later. This iteration is unique in that it features Mario Bruno on Hammond, whereas their two studio albums don't have Hammond (although there is wonderful Mellotron). The songs are all covers, mainly (unsurprisingly, given the Hammond) Atomic Rooster, with some smattering of Led Zeppelin (beautifully suited to the heavenly voice of Gianfranco Gaza), Jethro Tull, Free, Uriah Heep, and even James Taylor. The style is therefore quite different from the first album that appeared just a few months later. Just a short time after this show, Bruno and drummer Spallino left the band, to be replaced by guitarist Roby Munciguerra and drummer Giancarlo Capello, and the rest is history.

With regard to the sound--unfortunately there aren't many great quality live recordings of Italian bands from the 1970s. The best are PFM's Cook (Live in America), Area's Are(a)zione and Banco's Seguendo le Tracce, which are good quality. But even Le Orme suffers from a lack of a good sounding live 1970s recording. So understanding that, this particular recording is of better than average bootleg quality, pretty close in sound to Le Orme's Live Orme and Locanda delle Fate's Live. As another point of reference, this concert is similar in style and concept to Quella Vecchia Locanda's live album from 1971--in fact, they both cover the same Free song, "Fire and Water." But this album sounds much better than the QVL, and in fact sounds much better than similar recordings from Museo Rosenbach, Biglietto per l'Inferno, Campo di Marte, Banco (Live "1970" but actually 1971) and Acqua Fragile. (The live albums by Corte dei Miracoli and Il Rovescio della Medaglia are different in that they present new material completely different from the studio albums, both of which sound just okay.)

But the main value of these live recordings is their historical record--we can lament what we don't have, or we can enjoy what little we do. So for me, the final grade is four stars (Gnosis 11/15), an album I'm very pleased to own. But for the site, I'm assigning three stars. Don't start the Procession here--grab and love their two studio albums, even their reunion album, before this one. But I'm a happy fan.

For a 1972 album, Frontiera sounds well recorded and produced. The small Help! label folded shortly after this release, leaving the band on hiatus for nearly two years until they signed with Fonit. I would describe Procession as a cross between Flea and early Il Balletto di Bronzo with Robert Plant singing. The guitars are also reminiscent of Led Zeppelin at times, particularly in the extensive use of 12-string. The instrument opens "Ancora Una Notte," drums and fuzz guitar join in, and massively booming bass feeds back before the whole thing roars to a stop. Acoustic guitar supports vocalist Gianfranco Gaza, whose distinctive voice gives the group exactly the gravitas it needs. "Uomini e Illusioni" features some dual-guitar riffage...again the bass is enormously omnipresent and sounds great. Drums jam and bounce while Gaza floats along the top of the whole thing. This is good, good stuff. We transition right into "Citta' Grande," my favorite song so far, and an epic middle section reminds us this is definitely RPI. A multitude of harmonized guitars and bass give way to a classical guitar interlude which somberly closes the song.

"Incontro" displays classic Torinese spirit, using mandolin and tamborine to achieve a singalong effect. This fades right into "Anche Io Sono Un Uomo" which is a dark, brooding piece amply colored with Mellotron strings. "Un Mondo Di Liberta" is the song that elevates Frontiera from three to four stars in my opinion; the song contains quite possibly the most thunderous riff in all of Italian Prog and drums that sound like fireworks going off. But this is just half the story - the eight-minute piece changes abruptly at the halfway mark, leaving Gaza to sing with only acoustic guitar support. Eventually drums and bass enter and contribute accordingly. The "Solo/Un'Ombra Che Vaga" medley starts off with straight rock swagger and then fades to another 12-string section with some clean tones added for good measure. This brief respite is plundered by a reappearance of The Riff, of which I can never get enough anyway. Finally "Solo 2" reprises its predecessor with some harmonica and lead guitar thrown in. I can't say enough good things about Frontiera and will leave it at that.

A refined line-up brought a refined sound for Procession and musically ''Fiaba'' is a lot smoother and lighter release than ''Frontiera'', albeit in the same good level, if not better.Their sound was now a mix of soft Italian Prog with plenty of Folk and Jazz elements, based on the excellent vocals of Gianfranco Gaza and the elaborate arrangements.This belongs among the most romantic releases of the Italian school of Progressive Rock, featuring beautiful vocal lines, mellow jazzy electric guitars and careful synth explorations, maybe comparable at moments with IL VOLO's works.Procession focused this time on creating more atmospheric compositions with lyrical depth than offering multiple Hard Prog attacks and their sound is often colored with elegant acoustic passages and swirling flutes.Additionally some tracks contain some well-crafted sax parts akin to VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR's album but with a more melodic content.

The next year Procession disbanded despite their decent live activity with Gaza participating in Arti E Mestieri's second album ''Giro di valzer per domani'' and Gianotti playing with the Jazz-Rock group Combo Jazz.More recently the band surfaced again under the leadership of guitarist Roby Munciguerra and released the 2006 album ''Esplorare'', consisting mostly of reworked old songs.

Another winner from the 70's Italian Prog scene.''Fiaba'' is a very nice album full of flexible material and comes strongly recommended for all fans of high quality artistic rock music...3.5 stars.

"C'era Una Volta" is laid back and something you'd hear in a smokey club back in the day. Piano leads early then the guitar cries out. Flute replaces the guitar before 2 minutes then it picks up with vocals. Some nice guitar comes and goes. It calms down then we get sax after 5 1/2 minutes. "Uomini Di Vento" opens with drums and guitar. Organ and flute join in then vocals.The flute comes and goes. The guitar 2 minutes in sounds great. "Un Mondo Sprecato" is my favourite and I raise a glass to Gianfranco who may not be singing but his inspiration can be felt from the new vocalist. Just a gorgeous intro here as reserved vocals, bass, drums and gentle guitar lead. Gulp. When the tempo picks up check out the bass ! It settles back as contrasts continue. "Esplorare" opens with bass and vocals. Great sound 1 1/2 minutes in as guitar and flute stand out.The bass continues to shine. Sax follows then the vocals replace the sax.

"Il Volo Della Paura" is mellow early with acoustic guitar and flute leading the way.Vocals a minute in. It kicks in after 1 1/2 minutes and the vocals become more passionate and I love the electric guitar that follows. Beautiful stuff. "Suite 1" is the other track that is amazing although this is like a medley with one song blending into the next. Lots of atmosphere early then the guitar comes in after 1 1/2 minutes and drums and bass follow. An explosive sound then wind can be heard. Cool. Gentle guitar then vocals follow.Vocals are passionate 3 1/2 minutes in then it kicks into gear. It turns heavier and more intense 6 minutes in then the tempo picks up. A calm after 9 minutes then it kicks back in as the tempo and mood continue to change. "Suite 2" turns heavy quickly and the drumming and synth work are outstanding. A change after 3 minutes as it settles and we get some vocal melodies too. Another change 6 1/2 minutes in as it turns aggressive with guitar,organ and drums. Passionate vocals a minute later. "Fiaba" features gentle guitar as flute joins in followed by drums and vocals. Some chunky bass too.

It is what it is (haha). An album that goes over the same old ground yet at the same time it "sounds" very good yet is still vintage. A low 4 stars and i'd suggest you check out the original albums first.

Procession were one of those 2nd tier bands from the classic RPI period, not as well known these days as the PFMs and Ballettos, but who managed to release two well liked albums from 1972 and 1974. Their first was a blistering album of hard and heavy rock with dual guitars while the second was a bit more diverse and mature, together they make a nice pair. The band broke up in 1975 and emerged again three decades later with guitarist Roby Munciguerra from the old days and new mates Samuele Alletto, Stefano Carrara, Enzo Martin, Herman, and Danilo Pala. The new line-up entered Overtone Studio in Torino in the late summer of 2006 and delivered this gem.

"Esplorare" is a most unusual comeback album in that it is not new material. Instead, the band chose to re-record both of their 1970s albums pretty much in their entirety, juggle the order, and make something new of them. They also include one previously unreleased track written back then but recorded now, plus one newly written track. An unusual approach to say the least! Does it work? Yep. The material on those old Procession albums was pretty good stuff, and here with the new band it comes alive in a new way. It is harder edged with some young guys joining the fold and it features a flawless new production that allows you to hear everything and blow the roof off your house if you choose. This album is loud! The new arrangements as mentioned seem heavier and clearer as they were based on the reunited band's 2006 live performance versions. The new musicians are superb players as is the vocalist. (Original vocalist Gianfranco Gaza died in the 1980s). The material itself ranges from hard rock to jazzy prog with a guitar/bass dominated sound (as opposed to keyboards). Flute and saxophone parts come and go throughout and acoustic guitar gives many sections extra flavor. What one takes away from this disc is the love they have for the old material, mixed with a dynamic new energy and forcefulness that updates this material successfully. It must be very challenging to attempt to re-do your classic material decades later and bring something new to it without messing with the original magic. Procession have succeeded as well as I could imagine. This is an album that will blow away the fans of both of their original albums. If you like either of them, get this, it's a sure thing for you!

The booklet is brief, but contains some liner notes, photos, and lyrics for the title track (all in Italian.) Oh, and SinkaJohn, you'll want this, trust me. 3 1/2 affectionate stars.

Released in 1972 Frontiera is a guitar driven album alternating between acoustic restraint and bombastic heavy rock. In Gianfranco Gaza they have a vocalist perfectly suited to the more histrionic approach of heavy rock singers and the band consisting to a large extent of guitars, bass and drums with a bit of mandolin, mellotron and the obligatory flute turn in a fine performance moving between the light and shade and heavier moments with conviction and ease. A strong record throughout includes some special moments like the mandolin driven Incontra, Anche Lo Sono Un Uomo coloured with some lovely mellotron work and they're at their most powerful on Un Mondo Di Liberta. It's a stunning heavy rock/proto-metal tour de force for the first three minutes with a riff Metallica would be proud of. The second half enters into acoustic mode and this contrasting piece is the highlight of the album. One of the riffs from this piece returns briefly for Un'ombra Chevaga before closing with a beautiful acoustic section. This is bookended by Solo and Solo 2 and there's a feel of continuity for the second half of the album even though they're individual tracks.

Frontiera is an album of contrasts that will most likely appeal not only to RPI fans but has a lot to offer heavy rock lovers too. Highly recommended.

When it comes to Procession we have another RPI band for which I can't come up with any obvious references to UK acts. The band can be roughly placed on the wilder side of RPI acts such as Il Balletto Di Bronzo, Cervello, Semiramis or Osanna but actually we have something entirely unique here. This band plays a kind of hard rock, but with lots of atmospheric acoustic guitar sections balancing out the raw and jagged parts.

With each of the 9 pieces marvellous in their own right, the band really excel at writing memorable tunes. The singer's emotional wail is downright excellent. The music is not symphonic but sure progressive, as evidenced by its intricate arrangements and short but adventurous song structures.

There's a lot to discover on this album so it will need its time to fully reveal itself, but the nice part is that it is also very immediate and will rock its way right through your heart from the first listen. If you really want some UK references let's give one that is both absurd and at the same time not too far-fetched really. This is the 1972 RPI version of In Absentia! Good luck now.

The opener "Uomini di vento" (Men of wind) starts with a rhythm percussion pattern, then electric guitar comes in... "The wind blows strongly by now / Men run away because they can't stand it...". Sax, flutes and vocals depict a world stormed by the wind where scared shadows are looking for a shelter. Reality and its hypocrisies are swept away...

"Un mondo sprecato" (A wasted world) is more reflexive and darker and features good electric guitar and sax solos... "I wasted a world trying to understand / But I don't know how to begin / Man, you look at me and you don't understand / I used to live like you / A bitter life like many others / But I made up my mind and now I know / You're laughing at a clown / That has stopped playing with the wind by now... You are laughing without asking yourself what this tale could mean...".

On the long and complex "C'era una volta" (Once upon a time) the band try to explore the "dark side of the moon" and sax and vocals every now and again run after Pink Floyd's shadows... Lyrics are about a quest for true life: a child set off looking for the sense of life and when he thinks to have found it he realizes that he's old by now and that he has wasted his time...

"Notturno" begins softly, with acoustic guitar and flute drawing a strange and unquiet dreamy atmosphere... "A boat sails lightly on the see / There's a man on the edge / And the breeze wets his face / And the night gets darker / The man seems looking for life / But what is he looking for? He's not a fisherman... And the sea gets darker and darker / And the man leaves the edge / Now the boat is lighter...".

"Il volo della paura" (The flight of fear) is another beautiful dreamy track. Lyrics depict a flock of seagulls that darken the sky. When they land all together the earth is shaken. Men that can't fly are scared and remain on their shaken world where there's only a wall left, so hard to climb... Just thousand wings and so much fear!

The final title track "Fiaba" (Fairy tale) describes a village on top of a hill where live people refusing the rules of the world and enjoy their peace... I think that the inlay painting featuring classical and rock musicians climbing the hill describes this track better than words...

An essential album for every Italianprog lover!

The opener "Ancora una notte" (One more night) opens with an acoustic guitar arpeggio, then the electric guitar and the rhythm section bring in a dark sense of impending change. Lyrics describe the last night of an immigrant before leaving his native village for the big city and an uncertain destiny... "One more night and the train will set off / But in this last night I can't sleep / I've waited too long for this day / Now I'm scared / I fear that my life could end there...". The body is going to leave but the roots are not broken yet and this contrast is underlined by the music.

"Uomini e illusioni" (Men and illusions) starts with a fiery electric tarantella (that could remind of PFM's "E' festa"). Lyrics describe the train carrying its burden of men and illusions while running through Italy, from South to North, men who feel strangers in their own Homeland... "I will have to live my life / Like a clown compelled to smile / Even when his son is dying / I can't show any pain...".

"Città grande" (Big city) opens with a delicate acoustic arpeggio, music and lyrics describe the arrival in the big city and the feeling of pain for family and home left behind, the struggle for a job, then the feeling of hope for a better world and society where people can survive without leaving home... "Big city I'm here... I left my mother, my girlfriend and perhaps my joy to live / But hope makes me go on / And I will live of hope...".

"Incontro" (Meeting) is a joyful ballad featuring strummed acoustic guitar and flute. Music and lyrics describe the meeting between the protagonist and a boy about twenty years old. The boy talks about friendship, love, freedom and equality... "We're all alike / You can find thousand friends / If you look for them with your heart / There are no limits / If you live into love...".

"Anche io sono un uomo" (I'm a man as well) is a delicate and melancholic track about equality and awareness. The protagonist thanks the boy for the new hope but then awareness that not everyone thinks in the same way rises... "How many people treat me like a man and don't judge me? / How many people did understand that I'm a man like you?".

The long and complex "Un mondo di libertà" (A world of freedom) is more aggressive. It starts softly but then fiery electric guitars start storming enraged notes. Then vocals come in and tension slackens... "You have lost your freedom / But I'm not speaking with you just because of pity / There's a whole world around you that loves you like me / It's true that everyone here minds just to his own business / But you are a man and you'll find your way...". Lyrics are a kind of preach against resignation, all in all every place is the same and life is not so bad...

"Solo 1" (Alone) begins as an electric rock and roll... "Alone again, alone again in the big city / You look around you / Trying to understand where to go...". Then rock and roll melts in something very different and moody...

"Un ombra che vaga" (A wondering shadow) begins with hard guitar riffs shaping a troubled and desperate mood... Then comes a sudden change of atmosphere and acoustic guitar and vocals describe what seems to be just a wondering shadow, a living ghost... "Your future life is like a dark shadow / You see your hopes into the eyes of the night / Houses seem big but they are colourless / You would like to be at home / But you can't come back....". Then, on "Solo 2" rock and roll and loneliness are back for another desperate ride in the big city... "Alone again, alone again in the big city / You look around you / Trying to understand where to go...".

Hopes and disappointments, rage and love, friendship and loneliness, hard rock and acoustic passages... On the whole a very good album with good ideas and some ingenuities.