One of the many
criminally overlooked bands by Italian progressive enthusiasts, Il
Paese Dei Balocchi is rarely mentioned when people speak of Italian
proggers like Orme, Banco, and Osanna. And yet they left us with one of
the most delicately beautiful and esoteric titles from the classic
period. Formed in Rome in 1971, they convened with producer Adriano Fabi
and recorded this gem in only two weeks. Orchestral director Claudio
Gizzi played a crucial role in the string arrangements, carefully
rewritten and adapted to the rock sections of the band.This is not a
typical Italian symphonic album beyond the fact that it is unpredictable
and interesting, rather it takes some of the basics of Italian
symphonic progressive and blends them with both classical music and
space-rock influences, from the chimes of a nursery to the deep gothic
pillars of a church organ. The result is like the soundtrack of a
daydream with a rolling palette of one little vision after another.The
album displays awesome keyboard driven progressive creating the most
interesting melodies and warm atmospheres. It is however, their use of
the full orchestra that truly seperates it apart for so many others.The
band played several of the large Italian festivals and TV appearances in
1972 and 1973 before splitting up. Line-up / Musicians Fabio Fabiani/guitars Sanaro Laudadio/vocals,drums Marcello Martorelli/bass Armando Paone/vocals,organ Discography Il Paese dei Balocchi 1972
1.Il trionfo dell'egoismo, della violenza, della presunazione e dell'infifferenza 2.Impotenza dell'umilta della rassegnazione 3.Canzone della speranza 4.Evasione 5.Hidden song 5.Risveglio e visione del paese dei balocchi 6.Ingresso e incontro con i Baloccanti 7.Canzone della verita 8.Narcisismo della perfezione 9.Verita dell'intuizione fantastica 10.Ritorno alla condizione umana
