Banco's Darwin! is probably the best Italian prog' album, but all the bands mentioned are outstanding, only voted for BDMS because they had 0 votes.

Iván

Banco del Mutuo Soccorso....Bank of the Mutual Aid

Premiata Forneria Marconi.....First Bakery Marconi (Premiata can't be exactly translated, it means something like The first among everything or the best of the best; also can be understood as rewarded)

Le Orme......The Tracks

Locanda della Fate......Inn of the Fairies

Iván

Well Aerosol, my Italian is very basic and sometimes I can't find the precise word in English, but I think I got a possible translation

Premiata Forneria Marconi means almost exactly The very first Bakery Marconi.

Iván

Sweetnighter wrote: Can somebody translate the names of these bands too?

Haha, I like the translation in your signature...

Banco del Mutuo Soccorso....Bank of the Mutual Aid

"Mutual Rescue Bank."

oh, and where is Goblin on this poll?

I was wondering, myself! I guess I'll just check "Other Italian group."

FWIW, Banco's awesome live, but I just can't listen to them on album. And Io Sono is seriously overrated. I like Le Orme better than Banco, but again, better live than studio.

It seems like I listen Banco more than other Italians... ...because I have 6 of their albums!

Man Erg wrote: If I had another vote it would be for other = Murple

-I've got Murple a couple of weeks ago. It seems like that's the only album by them (Great one, anyway!), is it true?

Sweetnighter wrote: Can somebody translate the names of these bands too?

And why every 2nd Italian band has so long and hardly-to-remember name? Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, Locanda Delle Fate, Quella Vecchia Locanda, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Arti Et Mestieri, Il Balletto Di Bronzo... The names like Yes or Gong are indeed much easier to remember

"Le orme" is best traslated as "the footprints". The word "premiata" means "awared", but Ivan's translation works well too.

I also suggest to take a close listen to Il rovescio della medaglia's  Contaminazione. An outstandig album, with music of Luis Henriquez Bacalov based on Bach.

"Le orme" is best traslated as "the footprints".

Track and Footprint mean the same Mirco  Orme is very similar to horma in spanish and this word describes the shape of the foot.

Iván

PFM means the "Award Winning Marconi Bakery," as in the title of their compliation released circa 75/76/whatever.

For me its a tie between PFM, Banco, and Quella Vecchia Locanda. Quella Vecchia were just cut out too soon but some of their material is just outstanding (Prologo, Sogno Resviglio E, Villa Doria Pamphili...). Museo Rosenbach suffers too from releasing too little material, although Zarathustra is at the level of any other record to come out of Italy.

Other great italian bands :

New troll atomic system

A piedi nudi (one of the best metal-prog band ever)

Tale cue (neo-prog)

Aufklärung (neo-prog)

Celeste (Principe di un giorno is a true masterpiece, with its pastoral mood, not far from the gentler sides of King Crimson heard on ITCOTCK)

Nuova era (very good new symphonic prog band)

Metamorfosi (Inferno is good for fans of ELP)

Corte dei miracoli (typical italian symphonic prog band)

Reale accademia di musica (piano-oriented music)

Deus ex machina (very good jazz-fusion band)

Angelo Branduardi (prog afficionados could be interested by his earlier works, like La pulce d'acqua, which is symphonical music with a bit of medieval influence)

If yopu would had asked me 2 or 3 years ago I would have voted for PFM without any doubt, but now my opinion has partially changed:

1. The best Italian albums are IMO Darwin! (BDMS) and Felona e Sorona (Le Orme)
2. PFM has the most solid career
3. Can't say which is the best band, because all the mentioned including Quella Vecchia Locanda are superb.
4. One of the few Italian bands I don't like is Deus Ex Machina very much, specially because of Aberto Piras's voice and the lyrics in Latin, if you want good music in Latin listen Gaudete by Steeleye Span.

Iván

Italian Prog is my favourite kind of prog. Didn't knew it existed before I discovered Progarchives. What I enjoy the most is the fact that the voice of the signer is like an instrument because you don't understand what he says, and what a beautiful instrument ! But thats the case for all band where the singing is not in French or in English, for me. Italian is such a romantic language, full of emotions, and the music is so rich and symphonic ... : )

Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso as my vote because it's whit this band that I discovered Italian Prog

Voted PFM, mostly because they did a remarkable impression soundtracking my late childhood. Altaloma 9-5 Live is still spinning in my car every day ! ! ! But I've recently discovered Loccanda and they are great...

_________

Lunar

I've only come to Italian prog recently too (through the archive) but have to say of all the ones I've sampled PFM are the only band I've bought albums by and their first three are some of the best prog records I've ever heard - can't believe I missed out on this music for so long!

Quella Vecchia Locanda sound pretty good too and Le Orme have a couple of decent tunes.... but.....

while there are good bits on some of the others I am not attracted to the bulk of it. To me most just sounds like bad Eurovision music with extra flutes and hammond organs.

PFM for me are the only ones who seem to cross the cultural divide to sound like a universal band. The rest sound too 'italian' to me (know that sounds weird and I can't explain it - and it has nothing to do with the language, I think it's a melodic sensibility I just don't get and don't enjoy)

I'll keep digging in the hope of more gems but for the moment, for me, PFM are the only real diamonds in the midst of a lot of cubic zirconium.

Fruit wrote: Emperor wrote: -I've got Murple a couple of weeks ago. It seems like that's the only album by them (Great one, anyway!), is it true?   Yes. is true! By the way,it is magnificient band!

Too right! It's a bloody classic, that album. Does anyone know of any live boots or ANYTHING else by them?

ivan_2068 wrote: Premiata Forneria Marconi.....First Bakery Marconi (Premiata can't be exactly translated, it means something like The first among everything or the best of the best; also can be understood as rewarded)

Actually, Iván, it can be translated quite well. A better, and more accurate, translation would be 'The Prize-winning Marconi Bakery' or 'The Award-winning Marconi Bakery'.

It's like premiado/a in Spanish and Portuguese.

Buh?!? Bah?!? Where's Rovescio Della Medaglia?

Come on, even today, Contaminazione is THE ultimate blend of classical and hard rock.

In the long lost has-been section check out: Locanda Della Fate

I've listened so much to Banco, PFM and Le Orme that nowadays I only listen to more obscur Italian bands such as ACQUA FRAGILE, ALPHATAURUS and many others which I strongly recommend !

So I voted 'other bands'

This discussion is very interesting.The prog has taken root in a lot of regions of the world and  has been interpreted through the tastes and the musical traditions of the place.In the panorama rock is intellectually certainly a sought after and rich kind.The boys' approach to this kind is usually influenced from their studies and in Italy the classical music, that symphonic and the avant-garde of Berio, Varese and Stockausen  have left the sign.Also the search of the musical roots (very varied in Italy)  had his importance.The Italian prog for us Italian it is different from that understood from who Italian it is not.As we probably intend the English or German prog or French in different way from the inhabitants of that countries.Everything this to say that a lot of critiques that I have read in this magnificent site perhaps countersign an exotic approach to the prog in matter.I honestly have however to say that the greatest and more known Italian groups are recognized such all over the world.For many others there would be a lot to discuss as, I believe, for as others that Italian I am not.But this is another discourse, that would interest in general the prog and this is not the place.For an artist that it misses in the database rhyming you to my intervention in Band to add list. 
ciao

You forgive my English

AREA is missing in this poll!!

DEMETRIO STRATOS: you're not gone, just a bit far away.

Cesar Inca wrote:   AREA is missing in this poll!! DEMETRIO STRATOS: you're not gone, just a bit far away.

I wouldn't really consider Area Italian prog. For one, their music can't be classified like other Italian prog groups. They didn't have the italian "sound" For two, they were only half Italian... (three Italians, one French, one Belgian, one greek)

Vegetableman wrote: Cesar Inca wrote:   AREA is missing in this poll!! DEMETRIO STRATOS: you're not gone, just a bit far away.   I wouldn't really consider Area Italian prog. For one, their music can't be classified like other Italian prog groups. They didn't have the italian "sound" For two, they were only half Italian... (three Italians, one French, one Belgian, one greek)

I believe that you have taken some information from the good site Italian-prog and I think there is need of a deepening.As it regards formation, Busnello (Belgian) and Djivas (French) they left formation in 1974, but this is not very important.What is important is the fact that the Area represented both musically and above all ideologically an aspect of Italy to the very important epoch.Inspired however musically perhaps by the Soft Machine they drew from a strong tradition jazz of Italian matrix it also continues with from groups as Arti e Mestieri or Dedalus and anchor more Perigeos.As it regards the texts, they embodied the wing barricadera of the revolt juvenile initiate in 68.This is an aspect not to underestimate if  we wanted to understand the full affiliation of the Area to an Italian political-intellectual movement that had other musicians as Guccini, busy De Andrè in the elaboration of song-apparent strongly ideological. 
The phenomenon Area therefore it is not a national but stylistic-ideological cross-over.

Eemu Ranta wrote: Quella Vecchia Locanda ("What an old cottage"?) gets my vote for their two superb albums, although any of the 4 other options would be a great pick. I really like Celeste, Il Volo, Museo Rosenbach, Alphataurus and Picchio dal Pozzo aswell.. the italian scene is endless!

Quella Vecchia Locanda = That Old Inn

Vegetableman wrote: Cesar Inca wrote:   AREA is missing in this poll!! DEMETRIO STRATOS: you're not gone, just a bit far away.   I wouldn't really consider Area Italian prog. For one, their music can't be classified like other Italian prog groups. They didn't have the italian "sound" For two, they were only half Italian... (three Italians, one French, one Belgian, one greek)

Cesar

Vegetableman : most of the italian groups have a quiet peculiar sound,let's sayfor ex Goblin is very different from PFM ,as for "only half italian"... they lived and recorded in Italy, DS is mainly singing in Italian (when he's not yodelling) what more do you want...

Banco and PFM are the two most well known Italian prog bands, but I find their post 1975 output disappointing.  And don't even touch the English versions of PFM's albums - Sinfield's lyrics are not translations of the Italian and are totally unsympathetic to the music and the vocalists' obvious difficulty with the English language makes the whole thing sound very strained.  The Italian originals of the first 3 PFM albums are the best to go for.  Here's my top 10 list (for what it's worth):

1. Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - Io Sono Nato Libero (1973)

2. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per Un Amico (1972)

3. Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra (1973)

4. Le Orme - Felona E Sorona (1973)

5. Alphataurus - Alphataurus (1973)

6. Biglietto Per L'Inferno - Biglietto Per L'Inferno (1974)

7. Il Balletto Di Bronzo - Ys (1972)

8. Campo Di Marte - Campo Di Marte (1972)

9. Corte Dei Miracoli - Corte Dei Miracoli (1976)

10. Maxophone - Maxophone (1975) (The Italian version, not the English language version!)

By the way, the closest English translation of Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso would be "The Mutual Aid Bank" but the literal translation is "The Self Help Bank", which explains the pun of the money box on the cover of the first album.  Premiata Forneria Marconi is best translated as "Marconi's Prize Winning Bakery" (although don't ask me why they chose this name!)

[/QUOTE]

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.
[/QUOTE]

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.

I think PFM.

Yes, i know that Celeste, La locanda delle fate or Il rovescio della medaglia are great too, but they were too much episodic. A sparkle in the dark. Then disappears.

And everyone, once in the lifetime, can make a masterpiece.

PFM or Banco too has had a path, a project, a sounds continuity.

And, IMO, a better music.

prog forever!

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

OK I'll say it, but I really like them - Rhapsody.

Thanks for the other names though, I'll have to do some investigating.

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

I love PFM, Le Orme, Locanda Delle Fate, I Giganti and Il Paese Dei Balocchi.

And to a lesser extent Banco, I Dik Dik, Quella Vecchia Locanda and Museo Rosenbach.

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

so many great bands but....

gotta go with 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.

PFM