BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO

1972 was truly the year the RPI scene launched into the stratosphere, with the debut of PFM, Le Orme's excellent Uomo di Pezza, and this first opus by Banco all being fantastic releases. But my favourite of the three is this one by Banco, simply because whilst all three albums show the hallmarks of the bands' influences, Banco's debut does the best job of creating a unique sound. Simply put, every moment on this album - from the frenetic keyboard work, to the gentle piano interludes, to the operatic vocals, to the delicate guitar - is steeped in the band's unique personality.

Yes, there's a bit of ELP in the keyboards and synths and a touch of Martin Barre or Steve Hackett in some of the guitar playing, but these influences are subsumed so totally into Banco's sound that they should be regarded as one of the true originals of the progressive rock scene, with a sound that is simply... Banco. If this doesn't deserve five stars, nothing does.