Italian Prog

PFM

The best prog band is Banco del Mutuo Soccorso.

History:

At the beginning  of 1972 the band published their first album (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Ricordi) that will be a masterpiece of the arosing progressive rock Italian scene. The album contain wanderful tracks full of  lyricism and really impressive composition. In it the words by Francesco Di Giacomo got marriedwell with the music of Vittorio Nocenzi. 
"R.I.P. (Requisecant In Pace)", "Il Giardino del Mago" and "Metamorfosi" are very beautiful tracks, full of poetry, of hints, of instrumental insertion close to very murmuring moments in an alternation of mood really surprising.

It's a surprising mature starting point , witness of the potentiality of the band. Also the artwork has a great impact, with a cover as a piggy bank and a little cut (in which generally one can put his coins) from which the photos of the members of the band come up. Now that LP is really rare and expansive. 

After few months Banco is still in a studio to record Darwin (1972), a concept album (the first in Italy) based on the Evolution Theory. 
The new adventure has a lot of new composition that are part of the history of the band: "La danza dei grandi rettili", "La conquista della posizione eretta" and "750000 anni fa... l'amore?" are paintings with thousands hints describing the "original caos" and the birth of humanity; the first man on the earth, firt animal with a consciousness and feelings, with a wish of  love, half animal (in the aspect) and half man, destined to became the most  (highly) developed
advanced animal of the planet.
 

Next year the guitarist  Marcello Todaro was substitute by Rodolfo Maltese (ex Homo Sapiens) and he partecipated to the record sessions of the third album "Io sono nato libero" (1973) also if he was only named as ah host in the cover notes. On the contrary he was already part of the band. 

Another time the band proposes very "high" tracks, in which the poetry of the lyrics are completed by the music. The new album has only five tracks but almost two of them ("Non mi rompete" and "Traccia II") enters in the history of the band. But also "Canto nomade per un prigioniero politico", "La città sottile" and "Dopo... niente è più lo stesso" are on a high level. 

The fourth album "Come in un'ultima cena" (1976) is another demonstration of the band's talent. The highlights are "Il Ragno", that is still in the gig list, after 20 years, "E' così buono Giovanni, ma...", "Si dice che i delfini parlino", "Fino alla mia porta" ...  all track really beautiful, also for the abroad public. As demontration next year Banco was chosen as entry band for the tour of  Gentle Giant.

"Darwin" is the best album: "Cento mani e cento occhi" (One hundred hands and one hundreds eyes) are probably the best italian prog song.

Le orme is just... perfect on felona e serona

I am new to italian prog, but I thought Locanda Delle Fate only had one release, well the one I have is jawdroppingly fantastic, so much so that i, at first, had difficutly driving when i was listening to it, too much to take in

between, pfm and banco, i can't decide, probably banco just because they seem to have a more serious side (unfortunately i can only tell this by the way the music and his voice sounds, so i dont really know what the hell their music is all about, i should find some translated lyrics)

Aaron

Can someone recommend some good Italian Prog albums please? I like pfm and Acqua Fragile. However I bought Banco del Muto Soccorso (same title) and was disappointed. I also bought Il Paese del balocchi (from Kinesis) and was really disapponted. I don't want to give up on this genre of progressive rock but at $15 bucks a cd I can't afford anymore shots in the dark, so to speak. Thanks in advance.

                                            starcastle38

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Your list is very good. I like all those albums.

However, I have a small problem with your no. 1 album "Io Sono Nato Libero". The problem is the song "Non Mi Rompete" which I almost hate for some reason. I always think it as the poor man's version of "750.000 Anni fa...L'amore". Without that song "Io Sono Nato Libero" would be my favourite Banco as well.
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I love "Non Mi Rompete"! It's a beautiful tune and the psychedelic phasing on the acoustic guitar is great as well.  However, I agree, it is difficult to choose the best Banco del Mutuo Soccorso album out of the first three - strong cases could be made for "Darwin!" and the first album "Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso" as well.  They're all very good albums! "Io Sono Nato Libero" just happens to be my personal favourite, particularly because it contains "La Citta Sottile" (The Narrow City?), my favourite Banco song.  Mirco, well spotted, my nickname is after the PFM song.