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IL VOLO DI ICARO

Rock Progressivo Italiano • Italy


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Il Volo di Icaro biography
IL VOLO DI ICARO originated in Tuscany and released only one album, although there is a degree of uncertainty as to whether this was in fact a band project or the work of composer Alessandro Lencioni accompanied by a group of session musicians. Regardless of its doubtful provenance, the self-titled album of 1978 was fashioned in the Italian Cantautori tradition and featured the aforesaid Lencioni (keyboards, vocals), Giovanni Simoncini (bass), Nello di Maio (drums), Carlo Benetti (acoustic guitar), Lorenzo Malfatti (flute), Antonio Tonarelli (drums & percussion), Beppe Biondi (electric mandolin) and Fabio Cotopassi (accordion).

The self-produced album is a genuine rarity with the vinyl LP changing hands for three-figure sums. It's a conceptual work inspired by the tragic myth of Icarus who disobeyed his father Daedalus and fell to his death when he flew too near the Sun. Icarus has ultimately emerged as a powerful symbol of man's exalted aspirations, of youthful yearning and the struggle for existence. The music on the album speaks of these struggles and ambitions - a melodious depiction of the pair's soaring flight and the sorrowful reflections of Daedalus retrieving the fallen boy's body from the sea.

Lencioni's piano and keyboards dominate the proceedings although the acoustic guitar and flute are also well to the fore. This lends the music a strong pastoral feel that is reinforced by the lyrics' identification with nature and the seasons. The music of IL VOLO DI ICARO may be a bit light on progressive rock but is in keeping with the melodic albums released in the late-seventies by contemporary artists like Stefano Testa and Pierpaolo Bibbo.

-seventhsojourn

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2.44 | 7 ratings
Il Volo di Icaro
1978

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 Il Volo di Icaro by VOLO DI ICARO, IL album cover Studio Album, 1978
2.44 | 7 ratings

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Il Volo di Icaro
Il Volo di Icaro Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

2 stars Strange occasion and scarce infos around this band/project from Tuscany.This group of musicians was led by keyboardist (actually multi-instrumentalist) Alessandro Lencioni,who possibly came from Viareggio, and was helped by seven other members on guitars, bass, drums, flutes, mandolin and accordion.It is unknown if ''Il volo di Icaro'' (''The flight of Icarus'') was the name of a band or just the title of a concept album around Greek mythology's hero Icarus,guided under Lencioni's forces,who arranged and composed the music.The album was recorded at Studio Natali in Florence and was released in 1978 on the obscure Studiosound label.

To list this album as Progressive Rock would be trully unfair,there is no element of progressiveness in here,just a collection of ten songs with a very gentle,soft and delicate atmosphere and plenty of vocals.The music is a mix of melodic Pop,Folk and Classical music,characterized by Lencioni's elegant piano passages,the smooth rhythm section and the passionate yet warm and sensitive vocals,which add a romantic charm to the compositions.Occasional mandolin,flute and accordion appearances head the music towards a more folky approach at times,but always maintaining a pop sensibility.As a composer,anyone would expect Lencioni to be the dominant musician here and that it's true,but even he remains on the background leaving the space to vocal arrangements.The exception comes with ''Meditation'', which is a track close to the prog characteristics,bass grooves accompanied by spacey synths with a very nice atmosphere and eventually some needed dynamics.

Compositionally the album is rather a winner with some pretty nice songwriting and great vocal work throught,however the lack of some energy and adventure in the arrangements makes it rather hypnotic throughout the listening.Considering the album has little chances to be re- issued by a major label,it would be a crime to spend the heavy amount of money needed to get a copy of this rather mediocre release.Only recommended if you have a pocket full of money and an empty place in your collection for some smooth melodic Pop-Rock lost release under a great concept but with a few intricate moments...2.5 stars.

 Il Volo di Icaro by VOLO DI ICARO, IL album cover Studio Album, 1978
2.44 | 7 ratings

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Il Volo di Icaro
Il Volo di Icaro Rock Progressivo Italiano

Review by Finnforest
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars Attention pastoral RPI fan!

If you love 70s pastoral Italian prog on the lighter and prettier side of things, then this obscure little gem is for you. If you can find it, that is, it's pretty rare. Il Volo Di Icaro is a one-shot from Tuscany who made this concept album and faded away. It deals with the story of Icarus who despite warning flew too close to the sun. This is a largely song-based affair although there are a few spots where things get interesting from the progressive sense, via a bit of instrumental excursion or the last track which is a street noise collage. But otherwise the songs are light and melodic with heavy emphasis on the piano (which is why I really enjoyed it), synths, and acoustic guitar. The vocal quality is a little on the shaky side but not horrible.

"Meditation" is my favorite, a dreamy and subtle piano instrumental backed by a trance-like bass guitar which grows in volume until the drums finally escalate things and the synths join. Icaro is a nice little rarity for pastoral RPI fans somewhere between 2 and 3 stars, I like it well enough to round it up. But it's not spectacular, it's very hard to find, and it is of primary interest to a narrower slice of fans. I love the cover art of the place and era, an understated and intimate drawing. Chris is right to draw parallels with Stefano Testa, from the light-prog/folkish feel of music to the artwork, although I believe the Testa album is more accomplished overall than this one.

Thanks to seventhsojourn for the artist addition.

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