STORIA DI UN MINUTO

I just found a mint vinyl copy of this in the first (1/72) edition and it is amazing in presence and stereo imaging. (Italian 70's prog albums are generally not known for top notch recording quality) Some say this is recorded live. It's likely that much of this is, as it exudes a warmth of sound that throws it ahead of the curve for the early RPI 1971 era bands.

From the opening notes of Introductione/Impressioni di Settembre to the final echoes of the rarely played Grazie Daverro, this is a stone cold masterpiece. It is common to rate RPI albums (perhaps unfairly) against their more well known UK counterparts. But let's be clear: this album can hold its own against anything the Brit prog scene had going in 1971. The biggies of 1971: Yes, ELP, Led Zep, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd all delivered some impressive stuff that year. Other bands were just stepping into their skin that made them the prolonged influential bands for the next decade for progheads: Genesis were forming their identity, Gentle Giant's impressive Acquiring the Taste started to establish their distinct sound while Tangerine Dream were just acquiring actual synthesizers, Magma were still trying to shed their mantle of Electric Flag/Chicago trappings. In reality, many of the big prog bands across the world were mostly stripping off the 'proto prog' sound and branching out during the last half of 1971 when Storia Di Un Minuto was recorded.

You will hear some pretty original music here. The monumental musical throwdown and perennial concert closer 'E Festa' (or Celebration to the US/UK crowd) showcases an ability to truly rock out that is not hinted at in their pastoral early Genesis moments that inhabit much of this record. Mellotron, moog (they were the first band in Italy to bring the Moog into the local scene) and raucous guitar alternate with delicate flute, violin and acoustic guitar moments. Vocals (even if you speak no Italian) neither overpower or hinder the proceedings, but quietly and pleasantly narrate poignant tales.

For point of reference-think quiet 1971 Genesis mixed with 1969 era low key King Crimson. In the bigger picture though? This is some fairly hard to classify music-seamlessly integrating multiple influences and filtering it through Italian cultural music themes. Delicate and powerful at the same time, Storia Di Un Minuto is one of the best examples of Italian Progressive Rock out there, and believe me, there are hundreds of contestants that few outside of the RPI scene have ever heard of. This band was a powerful influence on many of them.

Unequivocal five stars in both RPI and general prog scenes. Must have lp for any prog fan

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