BANCO

It's hard to consider this a compilation, as it is new recordings of older material along with some unreleased things. Banco IV from 1975 is an excellent way to get to know one of Italy's most beloved RPI bands.

This album, like PFM's Photo of Ghosts is an attempt by Manticore Records (ELP's label) to expose the band to US and UK audiences. LIke PFM, they re recorded their early material with English lyrics, which most RPI fans seem to agree is a bad move, however well intentioned.

Song two, L'Albero del Pane is the only song in Italian and is unreleased, a piece salvaged from a theater piece they were collaborating on at the time but had fallen apart. The big highlight is their reworking of the monumental Metamorphosis from their debut album. Weighing in at 12 minutes, this one song is a tour de force you can play to any prog friends and say "this is what Banco del Mutuo Soccorso sounds like'. As mentioned by others, it is odd they skipped anything from their second album, the powerful Darwin.

For those who have never really tried any Italian prog rock, this is a pretty good starting place. Likewise for anyone who wonders what Banco is all about, start here. The virtuoso dual keyboard work of the Nocenzi brothers always gave this band their distinctive sound, and this is perhaps their finest hour for showing off their chops. The album cover features the distinctive lead singer Francesco DiGiacomo, (one of the bettter known and loved singers in the RPI scene) in all his glory. It is hard to say this is my favorite Banco album, but if I had to keep one, this might be it. Sparkling clear sound quality is another characteristic that should be noted.

Reference points would be ELP on a really really good day. Make sure you get the gatefold version of the lp for the full experience.

4.5 stars