This concept album is my favourite of the first three BANCO albums, but it is also the oddest (mind you, all BANCO's music is a bit odd in my opinion). Pity I understand very little Italian, because I think the lyrics for such an ambitious theme (evolution) would be concept. It starts off as a fairly sedate song (I even hear a little PINK FLOYD in there somewhere) but then comes some synth which makes me think of erupting volcanoes, and the song heats up, not very melodically, with BANCO's characteristic repetitive note sequences, with a piccolo mib playing over the top in places.
Keeping one's mind on the atmospheric, with synth used to produce animal-like sounds, and some dynamic 'echoey' synth that, given the theme and track title, make me think of apes swinging through the forest treetops at great speed (honestly!, although the band probably intended nothing of the kind). I really, really like this track.
'Danza Dei Grandi Rettili' (dance of the large reptiles) is also the business. It has a very laid-back jazzy barroom feel, starting with some piano and bass, and then adding synth. Again, bearing in mind the theme, it's not hard to picture a T.
Rex clomping around looking for prey. Great synth on this one. bought the album in the first place.
It is a frenetic track with a fair amount of unmelodic Francesco Di Giacomo (well, that's how it sounds to me!). When I first heard this track I thought, "What on Earth is this?
" but had to listen to it again, and again and finally had to buy the album. This is probably the track to play if you want to clear a room! Knowing the title, the music makes me think of a giant millipede scuttling at high speed along the jungle floor, but I'm probably way off: wish I could understand the lyrics.
Then, right at the end of the song, there is what sounds like a tribal ritual chant over some foot-tapping progressive rock. A bizarre track, but strangely compelling. '750,000 Anni Fa.
..L'Amore?
' (750,000 Years Ago...
Love?) is ballad-like, Francesco Di Giacomo singing with great feeling with the piano as the principal backing instrument, interrupted for a short while by some very electronic synth. It's pleasant enough.
'Miserere Alla Storia' starts off with staccato, repeated note sequences on the organ, then changes to a classical-sounding theme with piccolo mib and acoustic guitar, then transmogrifies into a mad-sounding Francesco Di Giacomo half speaking, half singing, then back to the staccato repeated note sequences on the organ. It becomes more interesting towards the end when piano kicks in with synth and other instruments, but 'Ed Ora Io Domando Tempo Al Tempo Ed Egli Mi Risponde..
.Non Ne Ho!' (and now I ask the time to Time and he replies.
..I haven't got it!
) is yet another bizarre track. It starts with a sound like a donkey braying, which sounds to me like the very slow dragging of a violin bow or perhaps the rocking of a very creaky rocking chair. Then the clavicembalo I hope the above whets your curiosity rather than putting you off getting this album.
If you're used to melodic Progressive Rock then this is a very different beast, but should grow on you. The composition and use of instruments to convey the theme are clever, you listening intently and enjoying immensely. Get it, listen to it on headphones, imagine and enjoy.
If you don't like it at first, stick with it, it's worth it. I'd like to give this 4.5 stars if such a thing were possible, but will go with 4.
Posted Friday, May 14, 2004, 22:10 EST |
Definately an improvement over their debut, which was released earlier the same year as "Darwin!" "Darwin!" is supposed to be a concept album, presumably inspired by Charles Darwin himself.
The debut album, to me, was like the first two YES albums or GENESISs' "Trespass", or in the world of Italian prog, Le ORME's "Collage", all albums showing potential which following albums fulfilled that promise, although I have to say albums. "Darwin!" to me fulfilled the promised that showed on their debut.
No doubt the opening, "L'Evoluzione" shows BANCO at their finest. The synthesizers are more present, unlike the unremarkable Moog leads you might find on "R.I.
P.", the synthesizers on "Darwin!" are far more interesting and present.
This album showed the band really did their homework, and so little time between the debut and this album that the year still number, largely instrumental, dominated by the keyboards of the Nocenzi brothers (Gianni and Vittorio), with some truly amazing use of synths. The cut ends with Francesco di Giacomo's usual dramatic singing. The rest of the album consists of shorter pieces, but still unmistakably progressive.
"Danza Dei Grandi Rettili" is a more jazzy piece, all-instrumental, dominated by Gianni Nocenzi's piano, although his brother Vittori gives us some nice use of synth. "750.000 Anni Fa.
.. L'Amore?
" is a nice piano-dominated ballad, definately my favorite ballad from BANCO, I like the use of synths in the middle. The closing piece, "Ed Oro Io Domando Tempo al Tempo Ed Egli Mi Risponde..
. Non ne Ho!" is a more waltz-like piece, with harpsichord and reed organ.
If you want to get in to BANCO, make sure you start either with this one, or their following, "Io Sono Nato Libero", as both are totally essential Italian prog albums. Posted Wednesday, May 04, 2005, 22:26 EST |
track, "L'Evoluzione" on Banco's best album; almost 14 minutes of majestic keyboards, sonically charged guitars, Francesco's incredible voice and just enough Italian weirdness. Fantastic!
And that's only the first song! One thing I love about Banco is that they're very original. Except for a Emerson-like keyboard flourish here or there, I can't compare them to anyone else, especially outside of Italy.
So, to make this short and oh so sweet, if you want to check out this band start with this one. It's up there in the top 5 Italian Symph albums of all time. Take my word!
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