Banco del Mutuo Soccorso
Io Sono Nato Libero - La Libertà Difficile

Oh! Finally: "there is something 'new' under the sun, or rather 'ancient'", this quote from the great Poet (Pascoli) seems to fit perfectly with what I am about to tell regarding the third famous album of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, a historic band of our local progressive scene. But I'll start with some order beginning from 2012 when a new project commenced for the Roman group now led solely by Vittorio Nocenzi: that year the commemorative box set was released for the fortieth anniversary of the release of the debut album (self-titled) published in this case by "Legacy," a record label founded for the occasion. Without going into detail about that precious musical contribution, I highlight two other subsequent milestones on this journey of "rediscovery" of their origins: the second box set of 2013 to revive "Darwin" and again in 2014 the album "Un'Idea che non puoi fermare," rich in historical notes, vintage photos and especially precious and delightful unreleased tracks from that era and beyond. With "Io Sono Nato Libero - La Libertà Difficile", at least for now, the discussion reaches its peak, hooray!

What is special about this that some might wrongly think is the usual commercial move of rehashing well-worn topics? Well, beyond the remastered edition of the original album, a commendable endeavor in itself since the result is really admirable; we have the unreleased "La Libertà Difficile" and this alone would justify the keen interest of progressive lovers in general and of Banco in particular. In reality, this work seems really worth mentioning, proof of which is that upon its release last October, it shot up to the top ten of vinyl records... where it is found in good company with... "The Dark Side of the Moon" (again? But it’s been 45 years! Enough is enough or almost)

Heavy words, and I realize it, yet just take a look at my reviews of some B.M.S. albums, which are certainly not generous in terms of scores, to become aware of this.

But let me delve into the details, what is it about? Vittorio Nocenzi describes in words and music, but especially Music: the context in which "Io Sono Nato Libero" was born and its motivations among which primarily the evolution of the Youth Student Movement and especially the freedom-crushing coup in Chile against Salvador Allende. Thus, we find 5 new or almost new tracks, in the sense that they are predominantly excellent reworkings of the originals, also modified in title.

This is how the "Canto Nomade" becomes "Je Suis" which, accompanied by the following "Apres Rien, Rien es Plus le Même" (an eponymous track in Italian), immerses the situations of 1973 into the present marked by the Paris attacks, which profoundly affected the author, causing him to relive the disappointment, anger, and anguish of his youth and maybe mine too. Both recompositions are of absolute value, at least for those who, like me, have the albums of Banco's first trilogy in their DNA, I must also admit that the language of our cousins across the Alps proves to be really effective in such a circumstance!

The re-edition of "Non mi rompete" called "Improvviso: un Viaggio Alato" is also very beautiful: a chat with Vittorio's piano that accompanies or rather cradles you for 5 truly moving minutes.

Before continuing the discussion about the album, I think it’s fair to mention the musicians of the "Nuovo Banco" who accompany the elder Nocenzi; hence we have Filippo Marcheggiani on acoustic guitar and main vocals, Nicola Di Già on electric guitar, Marco Capozi on bass, and Fabio Moresco on drums, all skilled although they seem somewhat overshadowed by Nocenzi's overwhelming presence.

The last two tracks deviate even more from the originals, particularly there is "Bach Cromatic" where Nocenzi unleashes his skills as a keyboardist with an obvious citation of J.S. Bach as a "prelude" to the reworking of "Città Sottile", a lengthy track that sees him almost complete protagonist, the "Toccata e Fuga" of the Father of Modern Music is clearly recognizable, revisited and relived in perfect prog style, thereby recalling the Group's masterpiece: that "Banco...di Terra" which alas few had the patience to understand.

The track that names the album "La Libertà Difficile" is very intense in rhythm and vocals: it ends abruptly not without regret and perhaps with an evident reference to reality, then leaves space for the long description of the work with interesting anecdotes, by Nocenzi himself, which although interesting, is objectively very self-referential. Nonetheless, if someone, especially after the first listen, is not interested in the re-edition of the story, they can easily shorten the listening... nothing happens!

It's quite difficult to give an overall judgment on the work of Banco and Nocenzi in particular, given that we are talking about three different episodes, so I limit myself to the novelty, the unreleased track which I can calmly rate with 4 stars reserving, as usual, the maximum score for masterpieces and this despite being of great depth and value, does not have those characteristics, although I strongly urge enthusiasts not to miss this experience. I conclude with a technical note that the opera in question was published in two formats: vinyl with a CD of the new work and a descriptive book attached, or as in the previous reissues of the first two albums with a box set and a 40-page booklet + bonus CD. The writer referred, needless to say, to the vinyl edition.