The Italian Prog Appreciation den

Excellent, my friend.

Thank you gentlemen, I'll approach it with an open mind!

OK, I've just discovered that I've had it on LP for years, wedged between a whole heap of other stuff out of order, so I'd never noticed it to listen to...I don't even recall when I picked that up!

I have heard bits of it on Youtube and remember it having quite a rough sound, kind of a shock.

Anyway, I'll give the CD a spin very soon and report back!

Pierre! I think I've found a lovely album for you!

http://www.discogs.com/Baracca-Burattini-Bib-Rambla/release/4693529

Just got it from Greg Walker this morning (I'll post details of my other Italian goodies later on), and it's sublime! Frequently like an Italian/Canterbury album, lots of tasteful gorgeous jazz/light fusion, similar in ways to Arti e Mestieri, but with sax/clarinet over violin.

I'll have to see if I can find some Youtube clips!

Nick, I've got `Patrick' but not listened to it in a little while, so I'll dig it out and give it a fresh spin. Not long until your Goblin concert either, right?   

This might also interest you, Nick!

Guys, I just received an order from Greg Walker, and one of the DVD's I got was the following, which will be of special interest to RPI/Italian prog fans:

The Best Of 2Days Prog+1 (2011)


(sorry for the poor quality of the DVD cover image).

Check out the track listing spread out over the two DVD's:

DVD 1:

(Il Tempio Delle Clessidre)
1.Della Natura
2.Danza Esoterica di Datura

(Arti E Mestieri with Mel Collins & David Cross)
3.Gravità 9.81
4.Exiles

(Goblin, aka New Goblin)
5.Roller
6. Goblin
7.Profondo Rosso


DVD 2:

(Alex Carpani Band)
1.Reclaimed
2.The Siren And The Mariner

(Maxophone)
3.Isola
4.Elzeviro

(Agents Of Mercy)
5.Journey
6.The Fading Ghosts Of Twilight

(RPWL)
7.Sleep
8.Stranger
9.Roses

The Goblin stuff is superb, and a perfect representation of what to expect of their current concerts. The Maxophone stuff was really heavy and rough, kind of surprised me and didn't impress me too much. I had never before heard the Alex Carpani Band, and despite one or two brief sections with fairly weedy vocals, they were a terrific symphonic prog band that played very tasteful music. Arti e Mestieri were a little rough too with the guest Crimson musicians, but still wonderful.

BUT....I cannot speak highly enough of the Il Tempio Delle Clessidre performance!! Their female keyboard player Elisa Montaldo is a virtuoso, and the band have so much passion and excitement. The first track seems to be a medley of both their own original music and parts of the 70's Museo Rosenbach albums (with Stefano in superb vocal form) from what I can tell?

The real highlight comes from the extended seven minute performance of their instrumental piece `Danza Esoterica De Datura'. There's now an ambient Mellotron section a few minutes in, and from what I can tell, Elisa performs some kind of....`ritual' on stage, recites a poem and then returns to the keyboards. All the band perform in masks for this piece, and it is highly unnerving and hugely exciting. The DVD is all good, but especially worth it for this moment alone.

There's also a second DVD volume from 2012 with some more Italian bands, but this one especially is worth grabbing for us folk!

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: Nick, I've got `Patrick' but not listened to it in a little while, so I'll dig it out and give it a fresh spin. Not long until your Goblin concert either, right?    This might also interest you, Nick! Guys, I just received an order from Greg Walker, and one of the DVD's I got was the following, which will be of special interest to RPI/Italian prog fans: The Best Of 2Days Prog+1 (2011) (sorry for the poor quality of the DVD cover image). Check out the track listing spread out over the two DVD's: DVD 1: (Il Tempio Delle Clessidre) 1.Della Natura 2.Danza Esoterica di Datura (Arti E Mestieri with Mel Collins & David Cross) 3.Gravità 9.81 4.Exiles (Goblin, aka New Goblin) 5.Roller 6. Goblin 7.Profondo Rosso DVD 2: (Alex Carpani Band) 1.Reclaimed 2.The Siren And The Mariner (Maxophone) 3.Isola 4.Elzeviro (Agents Of Mercy) 5.Journey 6.The Fading Ghosts Of Twilight (RPWL) 7.Sleep 8.Stranger 9.Roses The Goblin stuff is superb, and a perfect representation of what to expect of their current concerts. The Maxophone stuff was really heavy and rough, kind of surprised me and didn't impress me too much. I had never before heard the Alex Carpani Band, and despite one or two brief sections with fairly weedy vocals, they were a terrific symphonic prog band that played very tasteful music. Arti e Mestieri were a little rough too with the guest Crimson musicians, but still wonderful. BUT....I cannot speak highly enough of the Il Tempio Delle Clessidre performance!! Their female keyboard player Elisa Montaldo is a virtuoso, and the band have so much passion and excitement. The first track seems to be a medley of both their own original music and parts of the 70's Museo Rosenbach albums (with Stefano in superb vocal form) from what I can tell? The real highlight comes from the extended seven minute performance of their instrumental piece `Danza Esoterica De Datura'. There's now an ambient Mellotron section a few minutes in, and from what I can tell, Elisa performs some kind of....`ritual' on stage, recites a poem and then returns to the keyboards. All the band perform in masks for this piece, and it is highly unnerving and hugely exciting. The DVD is all good, but especially worth it for this moment alone. There's also a second DVD volume from 2012 with some more Italian bands, but this one especially is worth grabbing for us folk!

Well may I say buddy, that this is a beautiful post and the DVD does interest me. It sounds great and I don't know very many female keyboards/composers so that is a treat in itself. Anyway, give mr. Patrick a fresh spin cause your opinion, as you know, I Truely value so it would be great to hear your take.
Also, October 11th is my day with Magic Thriller!!! Lol. Did they play that one in Melbourne for your show?
God. I would be able to die if I got to hear that one live. ;)

Thanks again man. And beautiful post. ;)

Looks great, Captain Fantastic

Damn, Jim, that's a lotta P.F.M!

I've made several compilations of Italian prog Youtube videos myself, but it's more a case of slim pickings. Plenty of more recent concert footage, which is still good, but you really want to see them in their vintage prime.

I've got the following from Greg Walker recently, if anyone has heard any of these, please offer some opinions!

ALTARE THOTEMICO - SOGNO ERRANDO
BARACCA & BURATTINI - BIB-RAMBLA
CELESTE - THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS 1969-1977 (4 CD)
KUNDALINI SHAKH DEVI - SAME
MUSEO ROSENBACH - BARBARICA

ARTI & MESTIERI - THE LIVE (DVD + CD)
HÖSTSONATEN - ALIVE IN THEATRE (DVD + CD)

Can't wait to start giving them all a proper spin!

ALTARE THOTEMICO - SOGNO ERRANDO

Very different from the first, the vocalist took over the command,
they droped the blues - hard rock elements almost totaly.

Now much more serious and complex Jazz-Prog with a strong nod to
bands like Deus ex Machina and Area. A really strong Album!

MUSEO ROSENBACH - BARBARICA

Solid comeback album (almost all those comeback by Italian 70s bands are). Doesn't reach the first album though, but still a very good one.

ARTI & MESTIERI - THE LIVE (DVD + CD)
Just heard the CD (had no time to watch the DVD jet. Note that the
CD is from a different concert than the CD.

CD has really great sound and a top performance by the band. Love this one and hear it quite often.

HÖSTSONATEN - ALIVE IN THEATRE (DVD + CD)
Same as above with the DVD. CD sounds good, but I don't really know if
you need it when you have the Studio one.

CELESTE - THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS 1969-1977 (4 CD)
The original Celeste album is a Top 20 RPI album, so you can't
go wrong (don't know the other material)

BARACCA & BURATTINI - BIB-RAMBLA
Checked a few tracks. Nice and gentle organ led jazz. Not really my stuff, so I didn't buy it.

KUNDALINI SHAKH DEVI - SAME
Checked it and deceided against it. Sounds like a demo recording of
rather under developed stuff.


Edited by TheH - August 25 2013 at 14:23

Rarity from '73.




Edited by Finnforest - August 25 2013 at 21:54

AEProgman wrote: Hey gang, have not been logged on in a while, been on maddening work travels that some were remote (and secure) without much connectivity, quite liberating actually to be free of electronic communications for awhile.   Glad to see Jim with some out of retirement posts!   Looks like some interesting DVDs listed above worth checking out.   Michael, of your new arrivals, I have part 2 of the Celeste Complete recordings, it is actually Principe Di Un Giornio if I understand the track listing correctly, so part 2 is definitely good!   Since I was here last I inquired about what next Goblin album I should get and I wound up getting "Back to Goblin" today after I saw Michael's and Nick's reviews on it.  Love the song Bass Theme in E and Hitches.  Little bit different sound than their 70s stuff, but still pretty good!

Pretty good indeed! Glad to hear you got something nice out of the album. For me, it was an absolute pleasure as you already know.

Anyway, what's the next Goblin album you'd think you want ?