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PROG REVIEWER
Finally a modern accessible Opera Rock, which can be appreciated by a
wider crowd of
listeners (not for the prog fans only!!), of course with the same mood
of a musical, even
though I can not say it's equal to the 70's majestic opera rocks, such
as "Jesus Christ
Superstar for example or the good work by Who entitled
"Tommy"...nevertheless it's
suitable for a thrilling music event live on stage (as foreseen in the
next concert
programme of 2006), starring the whole old line up of PFM, plus a few
guest stars, as well
as a young talented female singer called "Dolcenera", singing in the
final track "Un Destino
di Rondine"... the good and the evil living together, the perfect
representation of Dracula,
this latter character already represented in the cinematographic
masterpiece by F. Ford
Coppola and here helped by the orchestral sections and the symphonic
chorus as well,
really delightful ; it's strange that it's the second concept album
only, after the
controversial (and quite disappointing too) "Ulisse" dated 1997, as They
try to be involved
in the development of a famous story and this time reaching their goal
in a lot of
circumstances: in fact the style of PFM is inspiring both in the
accessible classic rock genre
and in the symphonic breaks-through as well, close to a kind of classic
music and with a
certain creativity which is often remarkable. The lyrics by Vincenzo
Incenzo are clever, thanks also
to the melodramatic passages (think of the overture): of course it's not
a
prog masterpiece nor strictly a progressive concept album, but their
music taste is always
pleasant, being able to represent the various dramatic and romantic
moods!! It should be worth a "3 stars" righter score in comparison to
their best albums ...long live PFM, anyway!! Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) (translation: Award-winning Marconi Bakery) is an Italian progressive rock band founded in 1970 which continues to the present day. They were the first Italian group to have success internationally. The group recorded five albums with English lyrics between 1973 and 1977. During this period they entered both the British and American charts. They also had several successful European and American tours, playing at the popular Reading Festival in England and on The Midnight Special, a popular national television program in the United States.
PFM introduced new sounds, such as the synthesizer, to the Italian musical world. They were also among the first to combine symphonic classical and traditional Italian musical influences in a rock music context. Such innovations and their longevity have earned PFM a place among the most important bands in the Progressive rock genre.
According to the band sources it was recorded and self-released by the
band (on their Gnome label in 1969) in 300 copies "for distribution to
friends and the occult community".[1] In 2001 Black Widow Records released the album to the public market[2]
but Antonio Bartoccetti (guitarist and bandleader) claims the reissue
(as he calls it) is highly edited with Pro Tools, distorted guitars and
samplers. No copy of the original issue can be found to support his
claims though (if it exists at all).
Review by
micky
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
Another under appreciated gem here that deserves the Big Mick treatment.For those who want a snapshot description of the music... look at the album cover... look closely at it and conjure up thoughts of music that might fit it. Music that conjures up up images of rotting decaying flesh, souls not at rest but tormented by things that can only be dreamed of the the most vivid of nightmares. A cover so descriptive of the music... they used the same cover on their second album 3 years later.
Jacula was formed in Milan in 1968 by occultist Antonio Bartoccetti. After finding his creative partner in Doris Norton, a partnership that would last through the next decade, they recorded a landmark album in London in 1969. The album had a limited pressing of some 300 albums, and for many years was forgotten. In fact many texts list their second album as their debut album. The otherwise excellent 'Return of Italian Pop' book evens says the group was founded in 1972. This group though predates many groups of Italian Progressive music if not in formation.. but the crafting of what we now know as Progressive Rock.
The music is fascinatingly dark, moody, atmospheric brand of music that conjures up Sabbath like gloom and doom without crunchingly heavy riffs but through the use of the organ, the church organ in particular. Also absent are silly childish lyrics that some have tried to use to convey horror or darkness. There are vocals here.. spoken word in places.. chantlike in others..that are interspersed through the songs. Never the focus of the songs.. being a narrative if you will. Bartoccetti is often regarded as one of the finest guitarist to come from this period of Italian rock. This is not his album to shine but what strikes me about his playing on this in ...lets check the year here... a tone that is downright metallic. Very different from what others were doing in that year. Commonplace a decade later.. but to these ears at least... very novel for the last year of the 1960's. His guitar is mainly texture on this album though and it leaves plenty of space for keyboardist Charles Tiring. The album is an organ lovers FANTASY. Along with Battiato's 'Melle le Gladiator' this is the album I point out to people who want to hear Church Organ in prog.. not a solo or a dash of it. but driving a whole album.
Anyhow. Another short album by today's standards, but we don't mind do we. I'll take 38 minutes of high-quality music over 80 filled with filler anyday. An album that non-Italian speakers will have no problems dealing with. When a man says he wants to rip your guts out and savor it with a nice Brunello di Montalcino, you really don't need a translation do you. For me 4 stars, an album that I reach for when I am looking to match a particular mood ..or wish to set a particular mood. For the site.. 3 stars. A good addition to any prog collection. Obviously not a varied album and one that may only apply to certain prog fans.. and even then.. at certain times and moods. But when the time comes for wanting something dark and atmospheric.. there are few albums better.
Michael aka Micky
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