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DENTRO L'INVISIBILE

Genfuoco

Rock Progressivo Italiano


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Genfuoco Dentro l'Invisibile album cover
3.59 | 64 ratings | 9 reviews | 5% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
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Studio Album, released in 1979

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Ouverture (6:12)
2. Della tana (4:01)
3. Traspare (6:27)
4. Terra Promessa - parte I e II (6:37)
5. Galassie (7:04)
6. La Serenata Del Fiume (3:56)
7. Dentro L'Invisibile (5:11)

Total Time 39:28

Line-up / Musicians

- Marco Brogogni / lead vocals, flute, acoustic guitar
- Tarcisio Bratto / acoustic guitar, saxophone
- Franco Cecchi / keyboards, synths
- Giovanni de Luca / bass
- Paolo de Luca / guitars
- Marco Naldini / drums, percussion

Releases information

LP Citta Nuova (No catalogue Number)
CD Mellow Records MMP 116 (1992)

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GENFUOCO Dentro l'Invisibile ratings distribution


3.59
(64 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(5%)
5%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(56%)
56%
Good, but non-essential (33%)
33%
Collectors/fans only (6%)
6%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

GENFUOCO Dentro l'Invisibile reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Marcelo
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Another short-life Italian band. At the end of the magic decade, when prog music went slowly walking to the abyss, Genfuoco realised this only album, giving to the listener very moody music with good Italian vocals. Adding sax and flutes to the traditional keyboards, guitar, bass and drums, "Dentro l'Invisibile" was an interesting effort though not a classic. Don't expect the typical Italian symphonic sound nor the soft majesty you can find in another moody band like, by example, Celeste. Genfuoco's music is a sort of jazz-folk-prog fusion, melodic and accessible, and -if there aren't fantastic songs here- it's generally a nice album, standing out the jazzy Ouverture and the homonymous last track.
Review by loserboy
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Here is one of those hidden treasures that all Prog fans dream of finding. Loads of great 70's Italian prog with great vocals (Italian lyrics) and superb song writing. GENFUOCO deliver at times a mood and sound not unlike early PINK FLOYD (Meddle -era) and PFM's (Storia Di Un Minuto). Several tracks are simply outstanding and deserve to be heard by the world.
Review by silvertree
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Attention Italian prog lovers : this is a gem ! A one album only band... and what an album. Concept album based on a voyage in the mind (from the little Italian I understand). The music is more on the prog-folk side with some fusion touches. The sax and flutes give a very interesting touch to the music as well. Hard to give other band names as the music is quite unique. Buy this treasure if you can find it ! The record was re-issued by Mellow Records.
Review by tszirmay
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Here is another one of those one-shot wonder RPI bands that came, saw and vanished without any adulation or even criticism. Proof again how amazing and prolific the scene really was back in the glory days and how deeply it had affected Italian musical culture! Genfuoco's Dentro L'Invisible is a standout piece of 1979 music recorded at a time when progressive rock was writhing in its global death throws, a heady mix of expansive symphonics, dedicated jazzier elements (the sulfuric presence of saxophone, flute and upright bass) and inherent classicisms. The soothing strains of "Ouverture" certainly does that grandly, a precious instrumental tryst where the rumbling bass and terrific drumming install a moody platform on which acoustic guitar, synths, sax and restrained electric axe phrasings are all washed in a luxuriating Floydian bath where the jazzy bubbles caress the soul. "Dalla Tana" introduces vocals in typical RPI fashion, expressive and complex, piano leading the way with support from the heady saxophone, more cavalry provided by the ornate flute and contemplative excursions into a folk meets fusion realm where all instrumentalists can express their craft without presumption or arrogance. "Traspare" promises even deeper intrusions into the pastoral and bucolic, a bit like a gentle summer breeze discreetly epic and when the rowdy sax kicks in, we are in RPI heaven! The guitar overtakes the theme and zips in a parallel direction, ebbing and flowing majestically. The fragile vocals offer even more articulacy to the breathless peace, slumbering goose bumps galore and effervescent mood swings into jazzier environments. This is another one of those "Sunday morning as the sun wakes" kind of discs, not too challenging or outright soporific but certainly euphoria inducing . "Terra Promessa" is a 6 minute 2 part mini-epic that perpetuates the frail beauty of their undemanding craft, but it becomes obvious that the liner notes and hence the title order are all wrong. Okay, "va bene" because the next piece is a cosmic stunner, "Galassie"(Galaxies) is a riveting journey full of pulsating passion , featuring propelling bass and drums, excellent vocals, cool guitar phrasings, coherent piano and searching flute. Brooding music that aims to please. "La Serenata del Fiume" is a classic RPI ballad, at home with the Celeste, PFM, Errata Corrige pastoral genre, with superlative vocals courtesy of Marco Borgogni and fine female background vocals. The title track ends this short CD (this tendency for under 40 minutes is my only peeve with classic RPI!) on a positive note a resplendent expedition into symphonic progland with groove-induced contemplation, lead guitarist Paolo di Luca getting to flesh out his inspiration with added passionate male vocalizing and female scat singing. This is not an absolute must have but a definite strong addition to RPI addicts who need their fix to be continuously creative. Place this between other one shot gems Samadhi and Maxophone, but with a definite folkier stance. Beautiful understated artwork seals the deal . 4 invisible fires
Review by andrea
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Genfuoco are an Italian prog band that was formed in Tuscany in the early seventies. The members of the band were linked to the Gen Movement, a Christian movement founded in 1967 by Chiara Lubich to promote among young people from all over the world a peaceful revolution able to change the hearts first and then to change society bringing everywhere the spirit of the gospels. Genfuoco started playing covers of other bands linked to the Gen Movement like Gen Rosso but later they managed to shape their own sound writing original songs in a progressive rock style that could remind of bands like PFM, BMS or Le Orme, with a good use of flute and sax. The line up featured Marco Borgogni (vocals, flute, guitar), Tarcisio Bratto (sax, guitar), Franco Cecchi (keyboards), Paolo De Luca (guitar), Giovanni De Luca (bass) and Marco Naldini (drums). They had a good live activity all over Europe in the "Genfest circuit" and, after a self-produced demo-tape called "Antichi confini", in 1979 they released an interesting album for the Catholic label Cittą Nuova, "Dentro l'invisiblie" (Inside the invisible). The album was prevalently distributed through Catholic bookshops and almost completely "out of market". Luckily the independent record label Mellow Records re-released the album on CD in 1992. The sound quality is not perfect, nonetheless the music is really worth listen to...

The calm and dreamy instrumental opener "Ouverture" set the atmosphere. It begins with a solemn marching beat, then pastoral acoustic passages and delicate melodies played by keyboards, electric guitar, sax and flute follow in a perfectly balanced way...

"Dalla tana" (From the burrow) is darker and unquiet. It describes a strange dream, a stroll through a blurred past where ancient scimitars on the stones of a temple reflect the light and mummies lurk in the shade. "I painted with my thoughts / What the dark lacks...".

The reflexive "Traspare" (It shines through) is about the ephemeral values of everyday life and the need to look for a more spiritual way of life... "Who are you? / Things turn around you... It shines through / Night and day / You leave your footprints on the sand / Well, they are already vanishing into the eternity / Forever...".

"Terra promessa" (Promised Land) is a complex track in two parts, inspired by the Holy Bible... "On the sand / Into the silence / The infinity is a breath that goes / A few men are staring / They are walking on their footprints / The night is falling / Slow steps, hopes and distress / Tears into the void / Many years have passed by / And sweat dug the faces / But they keep on walking...". Never give up! Beyond the hills a virgin land and a new story is waiting... Percussion with a Latin flavour seem to set a happy end for people who don't loose hope.

Next comes the meditative "Galassie" (Galaxies). Music starts softly, featuring acoustic guitar and a soaring sax solo, then rhythm takes off. Lyrics invite you to the contemplation of the stars and constellations under a sky of glass. Just try to think about the mysteries of the cosmos... "Lost into the paradise / Hanging in the space / We're walking in a fabulous reality.. Now we're gliding below / We fall into a vortex / We're getting lost in the dark / The dream is coming to an end... Let's take again our time".

"La serenata del fiume" (The serenade of the river) is a beautiful acoustic ballad that streams away in a fairy tale atmosphere. Once upon a time the Earth was generous and the water pure... "Like water that flows relaxed on the river / And dance while is carried away / He will gather all the flowers for you / The flowers on the bank that have the same colour of the moon...".

Last comes the title track "Dentro l'invisibile" (Inside the invisible), my favourite piece on this album. It begins with a spacey flavour, like if coming from the dark side of the moon... "Here you are / The King is there / Fragile flower in a muddy desert / In the night, alone, without anything / Hanging in the emptiness of the cosmos... It's the absurd, the separation, the cry, the scream / Loneliness, moments of death... Who will be able to read into the invisible? / Who will sit on the throne of deliverance? / Who will dig beyond the abyss of the ego / And then will find himself inside us?". Well, the influence of Pink Floyd here is clear but the band managed to shape an original and intense track full of spirituality.

On the whole this is a very good album that deserves to be re-discovered by Italianprog lovers...

Review by seventhsojourn
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Genfuoco released this album on the Citta Nuova label in 1979 before disbanding the following year; they subsequently reformed in 2000 and then brought out an album of live recordings from the late '70s. Dentro L'Invisibile was reissued on cd by Mellow Records in 1992, but it's a bit of a rarity these days and it has taken me the last two years to find a copy. Despite the poor sound quality it was well worth the wait. Genfuoco was a 6-piece band so there's plenty of variety in the instrumentation although the general mood is mellow and acoustic. The music blends folk, jazz and symphonic to good effect and features extensive instrumental passages, with vocals being used quite sparingly. Singer Marco Borgogni isn't as flashy as some of his countrymen but his voice is well suited to the subdued nature of the majority of the album. Fellow Italian bands Delirium and Il Volo are the most obvious influences, although there are also hints of Camel, Pink Floyd, and to a lesser extent Santana.

The album starts with OUVERTURE, an instrumental piece with two main movements that are separated by a brief fast section. Both main movements are quite spacey and the second part features a tranquil cornet and sax duet. It's a nice intro to the album and sets the mood for the songs that follow. The first of these is DELLA TANA that has a folk feel thanks to its catchy recorder motif, although it also features bowed double bass and a nice synthesizer line. Some songs are instantly memorable whereas others, such as the structurally complex TRASPARE, require several listens to fully appreciate. This track is a bit frustrating because it features what might be Mellotron-choir, but it's barely audible due to the aforementioned sound problems.

The 2-part TERRA PROMESSA features the first upbeat moment on the album, with its joyous flute melody, fizzing guitar and Latin percussion. GALASSIE is another track that highlights the inferior quality of the production with some intrusive hisses in the vocals. Fortunately these don't stop it being arguably the best song of the set, with its spacey sax and Solina/Mellotron intro giving way to carefree guitar and synthesizer exchanges. The tender acoustic ballad LA SERENATA DEL FIUME and the Pink Floyd-inspired title-track, which even includes some female vocals in the vein of Clare Torry, complete what is a fine album. In a nutshell, one of the lesser-known RPI gems that's only slightly marred by some dodgy production. 4 stars.

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars This is Italian band GENFUOCO's sole studio album released in 1979. I must admit that this album fails to do much for me. I suppose it's just my taste in music I don't know.The tempo and mood shifts seem awkward and abrupt to my ears. I noticed that right away on the first track but when this continued I figured maybe that's just their style but it seems forced and not smooth or natural in the least.

"Ouverture" is solemn with drums, synths and sax early on. It settles with acoustic guitar and atmosphere then picks up some 3 minutes in. Sax is back before 5 minutes. "Dalia Tana" features vocals for the first time, flute too in this mellow track. "Traspare" is led by flute and piano in this pastoral beginning. Drums 1 1/2 minutes in then guitar and sax after 2 minutes. A calm with fragile vocals after 3 minutes. Relaxed sax after 5 minutes to end it. "Terra Promessa (Parte 1)" opens with the sound of wind and faint piano. Vocals1 1/2 minutes in.

"Terra Promessa (Parte 2)" has a good beat with flute and synths, bass too. Vocals before 2 minutes as it gets fuller. Percussion and guitar 4 minutes in. "Galassie" starts with acoustic guitar. Sax after a minute. A change 2 1/2 minutes in as drums arrive. Reserved vocals before 3 1/2 minutes. "La Serenata Del Fiume" opens with acoustic guitar then reserved vocals join in.Vocal melodies too. "Dentro L'invisibile" opens with the sound of waves with synths and a beat. I like this. The tempo picks up after 2 minutes unfortunately as the synths disappear and the vocals come in. Female vocals too.

This has it's moments but barely 3 stars.

Review by apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Genfuoco is one of the rare occasions among the Italian Prog bands straightly linked with Xian music.It is unspecified when the band was formed,they surely came from Toscana and were around long before releasing an album,propably late-60's to early-70's.They even released a nine-track tape entitled ''Antichi confini'' in 1976 and were a very active band in various Christian festivals.Their sole release ''Dentro L'Invisible'' saw the light in 1979 on the Citta Nuova label,a very rare album nowadays due its limited distribution.

The album is quite interesting mixing Acoustic music with Symphonic Rock,Jazz and Folk.''Ouverture'' is a nice instrumental diverse intro,where Lounge Jazz meets Brass Rock with some symphonic moog synth work to be heard and some light electric guitars.''Della Tana'' steps right into the Symphonic/Folk rock category with an obvious symphonic structure,warm vocals and delicate flute work on the front.''Traspare'' mixes again various styles from Folk to Symphonic Rock to Fusion,but it is rather carefully arranged mellow composition with atmospheric synths,saxes,acoustic guitars and flutes.The two-part ''Terra Promessa'' will open with a piano-centered interlude,which will lead to the symphonic energetic second part with impressive vocals,good electric guitars,spacey synths and folk leanings.The long ''Galassie'' is short of a dissapointment,too careful,too soft and too predictable with plenty of good vocals but flat musicianship despite the rich instrumentation.''La Serenata Del Fiume'' is a decent acoustic ballad with synths around,based more on the vocal work than the music.The eponymous closer is heavily based on acoustic guitars again,but the spacey moog,the interesting guitar solos and the more powerful vocals will add another level of inner energy,reminding of PULSAR, to make it a quite nice closer.

Genfuoco would disband shortly after this album.''Dentro L'Invisible'' remains a decent album in the 70's Xian Prog Rock discography.It is calm and relaxing but at the same time it is certainly artistic and compelling and will satisfy any prog fan at some point,no matter Jazz,Symphonic or Folk is the personal choice.Recommended.

Latest members reviews

3 stars GENFUOCO a "one-shot" Italian band releases "DENTRO L'INVISIBILE" in 1979, an ingrate period to progrerssive-rock, maybe for this reason they can't follow their career, although, in my opinion the album count with a good production. However, I think which the "real" reason to discontinuity of b ... (read more)

Report this review (#1539019) | Posted by maryes | Saturday, March 12, 2016 | Review Permanlink

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