>>> BTF NEWSLETTER >>> July 24th 2009

Welcome to our Newsletter! Some interesting CD news and a completely new category: fantastic coloured bags for vinyl! Enjoy!

PROGRESSIVE   NEW “It was forty years ago today...” that progressive music exploded like a bomb, following the psychedelic movement, towards a mature musical movement. Six writers deeply involved in prog, smuggle loads of information into this musical movement; they are unapologetic fans who seem to have been waiting for someone to ask them : “Is prog music really ended in the eighties ?” This book is a complete compendium of prog music, starting in the late sixties, flowing through the years up to yesterday. For fans, discographies, historical notes, comments and pictures of hundreds of records are included. If you really want to feel the deep progressive feeling, this is the book. Written in italian. “PROG 40” by Maurizio Galia with Claudio Aloi, Roberto Vanali, Franco Vassia, Donato Zoppo e Giuseppe Di Spirito is in the main book shops (€ 30) (ISBN 978-8889571-04-0) Applausi Publishers, 2009 456 pages, 4000 b/w pictures Si fa presto a dire “progressive”. Forse non tutti sanno che questa corrente musicale, sebbene abbia raggiunto il suo apice creativo negli anni ’70, affonda le proprie radici nel decennio precedente, a margine del pop psichedelico e dirama le proprie ramificazioni fino ai giorni nostri con inevitabili alti e bassi. Definire il genere progressive in poche parole non è facile, e non ci proveremo. Preferiamo illustrarne l’evoluzione che ne ha fatto un caposaldo musicale attraverso una carrellata completa ed esaustiva di tutti gli artisti che anche solo con un album hanno contribuito a costruire il muro di suono. Ecco perchè un manipolo di giornalisti e critici musicali o musicofili ha affrontato l’arduo compito di recensire tutto il recensibile, di catalogare il catalogabile per fornire anche al lettore più esigente una guida all’ascolto di 40 anni di progressive. La prefazione di Aldo Tagliapietra, inossidabile leader del gruppo delle Orme conferisce al libro la pennellata dell’artista che può dire con orgoglio “Io c’ero !” Scritto in italiano. “PROG 40” di Maurizio Galia con Claudio Aloi, Roberto Vanali, Franco Vassia, Donato Zoppo e Giuseppe Di Spirito è in vendita in libreria al prezzo di 30 euro (ISBN 978-8889571-04-0) Edizioni Applausi, 2009 456 pagine, 4000 illustrazioni in bianco/nero

PROGRESSIVE   NEW The Barock Project idea comes from the desire to spread the finest and perfect structure of classical music (mainest baroque music) with rock-style and a little bit of jazz harmony, all supported by a pop song structure. Their intention is to make live again the love for '70s progressive-rock. This project was born from the keyboardist Luca Zabbini , pianist and composer at the "O.Vecchi" musical institute in Modena. His passion for Keith Emerson (Emerson,Lake & Palmer) , has increased his desire to play a full range of style , from classical to rock and jazz. Luca is the composer of many songs of the band and since 1990 he played in several bands rock, blues, funky and also as a classical pianist. This is their second CD. Ten new songs full of surprises, with also the sting quartet... electronic, symphonic and ethnic too (one song is based on a hungarian folk melody).

PROGRESSIVE   SALE Ciro Perrino is one of the most legendary Italian prog musicians having founded both IL SISTEMA and CELESTE. In the nineties Ciro composed several nice solo albums, mainly dedicated to electronic music. Now we have found a very few copies of his 1994 album "MOON IN THE WATER", a record that is in fact a celebration of the many souls of Mr. Perrino, in a modern setting and with some of the members of the best symphonic orchestras in Europe. For the first time in many years Perrino also presents a Japanese female vocalist singing in the last track "GLASS RAIN": really enjoyable, interesting and inventive. In the world of synth music today, a genre mostly populated by trendier churning out pretty melodies and dance rhythms, it's always refreshing to discover an exploratory talent, capable of creating expressive music well away from the disco or new age masses. Recommended for lovers of electronic and new age music. Please be aware that hereby you buy the sealed, original first CD issue of 1994 and not one of the many reissues that this specific title had.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW After three "full lengths" and waiting for their next CD in 2010 this new release features 4 tracks, two of which have never been released before; the third is a cover of "E mi manchi tanto" from Alunni del sole, heavily reworked by the band. The fourth track is a live version of Pensieri Fragili, a song taken from the Istinto CD (2003). Very tasteful!

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Bag for vinyl! With padded shoulder belt. Up to 25 vinyl. Each bag carries the name of famous cities of the world with also the prestigious Technics brand on it.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW “Down in shadows” is a concept album, in the best tradition of the italian progressive rock, which deals with betrayal and solitude in a surreal and haunting way. Seven tracks span from a really intense electric rock to melodic and acoustic tunes. This project was created by Danilo Abaldo and Walter F. and tries to gather together the classic progressive rock and the more futuristic trends. The two special guests play on the album: David Jackson, the famopus Van der Graaf Generator sax player (but also Peter Gabriel, Peter Hammill and Osanna…), and Trey Gunn, fantistic bass player of one of the more recent incarnations of King Crimson (and also Robert Fripp solo, David Sylvian and John Paul Jones…).

PROGRESSIVE   SALE Later that year another album, Ut, with a heavier sound, closer to hard rock. A nice album to many, this caused the band to break in two parts, with the two leaders Di Palo and De Scalzi going in two different ways. BARGAIN PRICE!

PROGRESSIVE   NEW Influenced by Osanna, PFM, King Crimson and Jethro Tull, Plurima Mundi features Lino Vairetti from Osanna singing the final track “Aria”. The music of Atto 1 is the result of a classic symphonic progressive rock with the mediterrean folk melodies. Se la vita è l'arte degli incontri e se ad incontrarsi sono validi e appassionati musicisti il nome del progetto è Plurima Mundi. Atto I è il nome del disco, il primo movimento di questa nuova ed interessante formazione tarantina ispirata dal miglior rock progressivo italiano come Osanna e PFM e straniero come King Crimson e Jethro Tull. Un lavoro corale per realizzare con equilibrio ed energia quattro tracce ispirate ai quattro elementi ed elaborate con massima serietà e nel miglior spirito di un gruppo. Atto I è impreziosito dal canto di Lino Vairetti degli Osanna che ha prestato la sua voce in Aria, brano che chiude il disco. La musica che ne emerge è un momento di libertà e di sfogo, un dono sano per coloro che non hanno pretese, ma l'aspirazione di continuare ad essere insieme. Il progetto, guidato dal violinista Massimiliano Monopoli è un giusto equilibrio tra la matrice progressive e il folk mediterraneo. Tutti i musicisti che collaborano al progetto sono di Taranto e sono artisti attivi: Grazia Maremonti per la voce, Massimo Bozza per il basso, Vincenzo Zecca per la chitarra, Pierfrancesco Caramia per la batteria, Francesco Pagliarulo per il pianoforte e Massimiliano Monopoli alla viola.

PROGRESSIVE   NEW After opening for some major prog acts in Italy and having released some demos, including the tribute to King Crimson for Mellow Records, this is finally the first complete CD by this promising band from Bologna. Prophexy play what they call "pro-aggressive music", so be prepared for rather aggressive, hard edged and pretty complex sounds, tough this is definitively not sheer prog metal. Closest comparisons that come to our mind are a sort of more evil Deus Ex Machina or even Gecko's tear or Garden Wall. Nice and absolutely worth a try.