DA QUI MESSERE SI DOMINA LA VALLE

In 1991 the group decided to re-record the first two albums ("Banco del Mutuo Soccorso" and "Darwin") with new arrangements and new instruments. The line-up is reduced (only four elements) but the final result is extremely good. All the tracks are expanded in comparison with the original ones, but the more evident difference is in the performing of "Passaggio" in which the classic harpsichord part is followed by an extremely beautiful and inspired synth performance. Other macroscopic differences can be found in the arrangements on "R.I.P." and "Metamorfosi" which are similar to the ones of the Manticore period "Banco" album. You can also note the absence of the touch of Gianni Nocenzi even if Vittorio plays the piano parts as well. At the end a masterly execution that confirms that "the class is not water". The double CD album has been also released as a limited edition of three vinyl LP and actually can be found as two distinct CD's. The four stars (instead of the five) only depend on my personal preference for the original versions.

After 19 years Banco's four survivings (Di Giacomo, Nocenzi, Calderoni and Maltese) decided to rerecord their first two albums in modern key. In spite of the word of Di Giacomo "non ho mai amato troppo i rifacimenti" ("I've never loved a lot the remakes") this Banco's album is a perfect example of the prog style of the band. In 19 years a lot of things are changed in the DNA of the band, but with this album Banco's demonstrate that after not really good works like "Buone Notizie", "Banco" and "...e Via", they remains a prog band, with good musicians who can still play at the old manner. The comparing with the original soundtrack of "Banco del Mutuo Soccorso" is not completely winning for the firs edition issued. Infact this remake is really good, the music and the production came from an evolution of band's style, so is too much simple to hear all the instruments playing it's parts... The sound of mellotron and moog is substituted by modern sinthetizers, but the good Nocenzi plays like in the early days. I recommend this album to Banco's evaluetors and to all the evaluetors of italian prog.

I discover Banco working on a smal music store in 1973 In 1991 i got Darwin remaster Witch is 1 cd of this albumThe refresh stof was astonishing to me in 2002 i fund this on ebay Wow a real master piece (not remouving any of the mind blowing music of the first 3 Bancos) This is very hard to find i agree But this is trully worth to HAVE The music is the first two Banco With a diffrent aproch more of what they do live ,recorded in studio so if your a fan and you see That dont leve it behind i have the CD and the Vinyl and in happy about it. This is my first review and not the last Thanks to this wandefull website to the progfan like me

Francesco Di Giacomo writes in CD booklet that he does not like remakes and BANCO decided to re-record their two first albums because fans asked them ''to do it today''. It seems the easiest way was to play both albums live and make a record, but the band did it in studio. I guess musicians had their reasons for this.

I'm not a big fan of remakes too, but I like new versions of both albums. There are lots of new colours in familiar tunes, first of all due to Vittorio Nocenzi's excellent keyboard work. Rodolfo Maltese is more than competent guitarist, and Francesco Di Giacomo is, as usual, in good vocal form. It became a common place in prog circles to consider him an opera-trained vocalist, but I've read somewhere that he is a self-taught singer. Don't know where the truth is, but anyway he is one of the greatest rock singers of all time. The low point for me is the absence of bass guitar player on the whole record and the use of programmed drums on many tracks. But great music is great music. I love original ''BMS'' and ''Darwin!'' albums to bits, but quite often listen to these new versions.

Highly recommended, but get 1972 originals first.