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Rating: Italy is often full of "hidden" talents. Balletto di Bronzo is an Italian progressive group that more or less belongs to this "category."
The group's "discographic history" is not very long. In 1970, they released their first album "Sirio 2222" for RCA Italiana. In this first album, especially in the last track "Missione Sirio 2222," one can notice their progressive rock tendency. This tendency would later be developed in the album subject to this review, which is their second and last album "YS," released two years after their first one.
In this album, the lineup changes, with Gianni Leone (still very young) taking the place as the vocalist. Besides his virtuosic use of the voice, what often leaves one stunned is the use of the keyboards. Leone is indeed considered one of the greatest rock keyboardists of all time. The album is a concept one; it talks about the last man left on Earth, who embarks on an incredible journey through three encounters before melancholically disappearing into the darkness, just like the island "YS," sunken into the waters.
"Ys" clearly showcases the genre developed in this album, as we mentioned before, a pure Italian progressive rock. Here we notice an incredible mastery in the use of instruments by each musician. Starting from the already mentioned Leone, then moving to drummer Gianchi Stringa, who in tracks like "Primo Incontro," manages to be in perfect sync with all the other instruments, ruling with his instrument. Additionally, there is also sometimes a virtuosic and other times (less) minimal use of the guitar by Balletto di Bronzo's founder, Lino Ajello, and the bass by Vito Manzari.
This album is therefore a clear example of how an incredibly capable group remained partially hidden from the "masses" in Italy. A group that, perhaps, if it had been born elsewhere, like in England, would have climbed the charts alongside the names of the greatest bands in history.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Introduzione (15:18)
La voce narrò
all'ultimo che
sul mondo restò,
la vera realtà
E poi comandò
di andare tra i suoi
a dire la verità
e il gioco iniziò.
Quella voce premeva nel petto
col dolore di cose capite
forse era in tempo a dirlo anche agli altri
forse era in tempo a dirlo anche agli altri
Cos'è la vita di un uomo che ha pianto
come gurdare un cielo sereno
come fissare i tuoi occhi nel sole
come afferare una mano protesa.
E la voce premeva nel petto
col dolore di cose vissute
doveva andare presto
doveva andare presto
La poesia di un giorno di vento
l'ultima foglia di un albero morto
il primo giorno di sole d'aprile
un corpo caldo una mano vicina
02 Primo incontro (03:30)
Lui andò oltre i monti e più in là
senza mai voltarsi a guardare
lungo è il cammino da fare
ma doveva andare ancora andare.
Un uomo è là con la faccia all'ingiù
e giù l'edera abbraccia il suo corpo
nero è tutto il sangue che ha
su ferite di orecchie strappate
La voce lo costrinse a gridare
tutto ciò che moriva dentro sè
quel che gridò il vento portò con sè
non avrebbe più sentito niente.
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Other reviews
By nick81
The Balletto di Bronzo delivers a milestone of Italian prog that has nothing to envy even of foreign giants.
The lyrics unfold through a mysterious concept plot, giving the whole thing an atmosphere of decadence; one of the rare examples of Italian dark progressive.
By otrebla86
The skilled Gianni Leone manages to create atmospheres typical of medieval Celtic music, for the first time in Italy.
If I am to listen to this album, I listen to it from the introduction to the last track, without interruptions or skips.
By paloz
This, along with very few others, is one of those I consider the TRUE masterpieces of Italian progressive rock.
I swear it gives chills.
By sinaftersin
Leone, exceedingly generous behind the organ, the moog, the mellotron, the spinet, the piano, weaves an oppressive and claustrophobic plot, interwoven by a faint and delirious voice, dreamy and damned.
This album is a work forever contemporary, capable of gifting dozens of hours of pure, powerful emotions to anyone willing to be transported to another world.
By giuseppe40
Ys is a record not for everyone, certainly not for every day.
The intertwining of the many and complex instrumental parts is almost perfect, the arrangements are never predictable or banal.
