From the book Rock Progressivo Italiano: an introduction to Italian Progressive Rock
Before the release of their eponymous debut album, all the members of “Il Volo” had collaborated with Lucio Battisti and with lyricist Mogol. Years of hard work as session men and as members of other bands (Alberto Radius and Gabriele Lorenzi were members of Formula 3, Mario Lavezzi of Flora Fauna e Cemento and I Camaleonti, Bob Callero of Osage Tribe and Duello Madre, Gianni Dall’Aglio of I Ribelli, Vince Tempera of Pleasure Machine) resulted in considerable musicianship and experience. All the members of Il Volo were excellent musicians and the only problem on their eponymous debut album was a lack of originality in the song-writing. Anyway their second work in my opinion is far better than the previous one. It’s almost completely instrumental though this wasn’t exactly a choice the band made... According to an interview with Gabriele Lorenzi, it just happened that the guitarist Alberto Radius had a dispute with the lyricist Mogol and the album lyrics were left unfinished 1. Perhaps this was just a lucky chance, because in my opinion Mogol’s lyrics on the eponymous debut album of the band weren’t particularly inspired... Here the vocals just seem to sketch whispered melodies but the result is very suggestive and pleasant and they probably give a touch of “unintentional originality” to the whole album...
Before the release of their eponymous debut album, all the members of “Il Volo” had collaborated with Lucio Battisti and with lyricist Mogol. Years of hard work as session men and as members of other bands (Alberto Radius and Gabriele Lorenzi were members of Formula 3, Mario Lavezzi of Flora Fauna e Cemento and I Camaleonti, Bob Callero of Osage Tribe and Duello Madre, Gianni Dall’Aglio of I Ribelli, Vince Tempera of Pleasure Machine) resulted in considerable musicianship and experience. All the members of Il Volo were excellent musicians and the only problem on their eponymous debut album was a lack of originality in the song-writing. Anyway their second work in my opinion is far better than the previous one. It’s almost completely instrumental though this wasn’t exactly a choice the band made... According to an interview with Gabriele Lorenzi, it just happened that the guitarist Alberto Radius had a dispute with the lyricist Mogol and the album lyrics were left unfinished 1. Perhaps this was just a lucky chance, because in my opinion Mogol’s lyrics on the eponymous debut album of the band weren’t particularly inspired... Here the vocals just seem to sketch whispered melodies but the result is very suggestive and pleasant and they probably give a touch of “unintentional originality” to the whole album...
The opener “Gente in amore” (People in love) is a good track that recalls some works of Lucio Battisti (especially “Anima latina”), but low subdued vocals drawing a murmured melody without lyrics give it a strange feeling... On the following track “Medio Oriente 249,000 tutto compreso” (Middle East 249,000 all included) prog, jazz and Mediterranean echoes blend together for an interesting trip towards Middle-Eastern atmospheres... The third track “Essere” (To be) is the only one with lyrics, but they are very far from memorable... “Dignity is a very difficult subject / Tears and pain never change you...”. Anyway the music is excellent and features a good guitar solo...
The music flows steadily without weak moments... “Alcune scene” (Some scenes) is dark and suggestive and it could have been a good soundtrack for a Horror or Science Fiction film... “Svegliandomi con te alle sei del mattino” (Waking up with you at 6 a.m.) takes you in a kind of particular “Latin jazz” atmosphere, with a guitar solo in Carlos Santana style giving way to good keyboard work... In the last track “Canti e suoni” (Songs and sounds) whispered vocals are used as an instrument to introduce an ethereal, quiet first part that after two minutes melts into a more aggressive, nervous crescendo... The album is short, but without fillers and in my opinion it could be an excellent addition to an “Italianprog” collection.
You can listen to the complete album HERE
Il Volo: Essere o non essere? (1975). Other opinions:
Jim Russell: This is a mostly instrumental album first of all, a bit jazzy and plenty rocking. The sound is great on the Japanese CD and the production quite good too. The music should appeal very much to fans of good rock music with lots of lush instrumentation, bright guitars, full bass, and very expressive drumming. While the playing is indeed top notch the band presents a very unified sound and avoid simply trading long-winded solos... (Read the complete review HERE)
You can listen to the complete album HERE
Il Volo: Essere o non essere? (1975). Other opinions:
Jim Russell: This is a mostly instrumental album first of all, a bit jazzy and plenty rocking. The sound is great on the Japanese CD and the production quite good too. The music should appeal very much to fans of good rock music with lots of lush instrumentation, bright guitars, full bass, and very expressive drumming. While the playing is indeed top notch the band presents a very unified sound and avoid simply trading long-winded solos... (Read the complete review HERE)
No comments:
Post a Comment