L'evoluzione (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, 1972)

This is no doubt one of the most important tracks from the Italian prog Golden Era and opens the second Banco's album, a concept based on Darwin's theories. As the title says it, this long song is about Evolution and it actually evolves from a dense and liquid intro to a bombastic, almost explosive central part introducing a melodic, highly structurate finale. Its 14 minutes or so of duration are full of warm touches, clever interplays, accelerations, slowdowns and assorted surprises.

"Darwin!" in a recent deluxe re-mastered edition.

The concept recurs in the lyrics spanning over the long pre-human era (thank you Mr. Di Giacomo!) and also in in the music, coming in a somewhat archaic flavour, based on the bass guitar irregular beat and on well found keyboard effects. Las but not least, this is one of those rare songs successfully combining instrumental skills and emotional power.

Metamorfosi (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, 1972)

One of the most intricated songs from the Golden Era of Italian prog, a true classic. This track comes from Banco del Mutuo Soccorso's debut album and spans over ten minutes of classical, jazz and rock variations, including melodic passsages and experimental ones.

Original artwork, remix artwork and an early '70s BMS's line-up.

The magic fusion of catchy pastoral tunes, devilish improvisation-like passages, symphonic interludes and abrupt changes makes of "Metamorfosi" one of the proggest tracks ever. The title says it all: this song is a long and enchanting musical metamorphosis, where the main theme goes through a series of reincarnations, culminating with the sung section and the bombastic finale. What else could a poor progfan looking for?

R.I.P. (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, 1972)

No doubt this is one of the finest Italian progressive rock tracks ever and also one of the most known and inspiring ones. Useless to say, Francesco Di Giacomo's vocals are the first feature of this song striking the listener with their force and passionate tone.The title (to be read as a plural: "Requescant In Pacem") and the lyrics conjure up a gloomy and bloody war aftermath atmosphere and the powerful keyboards add an epic colour to such a sad picture.

 

The debut album of BMS still stands as a prog monument.

Among the countless songs dealing with war and death, IMHO this is one of the deepest and most moving ones. Lyrics, rock music and melodic inspiration are so perfectly melt here to describe the grievous side of human nature that each time I listen to "R.I.P." I feel uneasy and somehow sorry. And when the piano comes in, I'm nearly ashamed to belong to the human race.

A cena, per esempio... (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, 1976)

This is the opening track from the album “Come in un’ultima cena”, also relesed in English as “At Supper, for Example” (the whole album was translated with “As in A Last Supper” for Manticore label release).  Strongly based on Francesco Di Giacomo’s sensitive vocals, kind of the lead instrument here, the rich melodic lines are like the spires of a musical serpent, drawing Majestic spirals in and out the synth and piano background.

Leonardo's "Last Supper" inside the gatefold LP.

The lyrics depict the internal struggle of Jesus Christ during the Bible episode inspirating the title for the song. Mind, there are no religious themes here, just a deeply human pain. The ancient instruments the synth imitates add a mysterious, epic charm to the track, that really moves me each time I put it on my player. Prog emotions, I daresay… 

E mi viene da pensare (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, 1979)

This is a short song, but surely one of the most moving ones I came across during my listener's career. Taken from the album "Canto di Primavera" - an underrated one, IMHO - it's a slow tempo ballad based on a delicate and deep parallel between creativity and Spring. Such a song proves how a prog song can be plain and effective, sensitive and essential. 

 "Canto di Primavera" was the eigth Banco's studio album.

Of course, there is a beautiful instrumental section and the whole arrangement is elegant and neat, but the strongest point in this track is no doubt the melody - so airy and original - along with the vocal performance. The lyrics are also a jewel: "And I happen to think about the enthusiam grown along the road, it was almost a duty to show all my cards and I felt as smart as an idea you can't stop...". Smart, yes, that's the right word!

Canto di Primavera (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, 1979)

A plain, beautiful song by BMS I Always listen to with pleasure. Vaguely Medieval and full of grace, this "Canto di Primavera" (Springsong in English) is really like a Spring fresh and vital breeze, spreading a gentle light all around. Francesco Di Giacomo sings it with his poetic and almost magic voice and the band draws a classically inspired mood, reminiscent of gypsies and ballad singers.

This song, taken from BMS' 9th studio album, was also released

as a 7" single, featuring this tender cover photo.

The short instrumental interludes increase the bucolic atmosphere and confirm if necessary how vast the musical culture of the band was. It seems to me this "Canto di Primavera" is kind of the swan song of an era: all was going to change for the band, but not before a last, nostalgic look to their melodic and progressive roots.

Non mi rompete (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, 1973)

Taken from BMS' album "Io sono nato libero" this song is a perfect example of what Francesco Di Giacomo was capable of with his highly original voice. And it also features a beautiful melody, an unpredictable arrangement, charming lyrics about sleeping and dreaming, and a series of delicate, mostly acoustic sounds. The final instrumental section includes a pleasant keyboard solo by Vittorio Nocenzi, who also signs the music, leaving the lyrics composition to Di Giacomo, as usual.

This song was also released as a 7" single, b/w "La città sottile".

 

This is exactly what I call a prog song, exploring the deepest corners of human soul and abandoning any traditional pattern to find a new, stimulating path. Nonetheless, you can still enjoy this track both as a plain song or as a challenging musical trip. I suppose that's why BMS played such an important role in Italian prog rock and, later, even in pop music.

750.000 anni fa... l'amore? (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, 1972)

When I first heard of this track - whose title means in English 750.000 years ago... love? - even before listening to it I was intrigued. A friend of mine told me this was about an impossible love story between a Neanderthal man and a Homo Sapiens woman. Well, it is unusual, isn't it? So I flew to my record shop (they weren't yet extinct then) and I bought the Banco's album "Darwin!". I was really impressed by this song: such a subject would sound ridiculous in every singer's mouth, but Francesco Di Giacomo is so natural, passionate and convincing that I actually saw that Neanderthal man peeing the Sapiens girl, I deeply felt his shame and his sorrow when blaming his simian body.

Francesco Di Giacomo and Vittorio Nocenzi in a 2013 shot.

And I also appreciated the wonderful melody by Vittorio Nocenzi, both powerful and sweet. Yes, this is one of my favourite italian prog songs ever and it still touches me every time I happen to listen to it, especially when Di Giacomo sings (forgive my terrible translation): If you were relly mine, I'd wear your breast of water drops, then under your feet I'd lay veils of wind and leaves. Pale body with wide hips, I'd take you in green fields and I'd dance under the moon, I'd dance with you. And when I read recently that some scientists are now convinced that Homo Sapiens has in his genetics some Neanderthal genes, well, I thought... who knows? Maybe this impossible love dream came true.

Canto nomade per un prigioniero politico (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, 1973)

If I had to suggest one word to describe this BMS' track, this would be refinement. All is carefully planned, arranged and set up in a stunning 15 minute suite. In spite of all this accuracy, the Canto is a touching song, an emotional journey guided by Francesco Di Giacomo's sensitive vocals. There's an extraordinary range of sensations and musical genres (classical, jazzy, melodic...) and an intricate plot involving all instruments, especially keyboards, of course, with an original use of synths. Last but not least, there are beutiful melodies, among which the wonderful main theme. 

A rural photograph of BMS.

But this song is more than just Nocenzi brothers' Keys and Di Giacomo's voice: Marcello Todaro's guitars are everywhere, sometimes gently hidden in the background and sometimes out on the foreground, while Pier Luigi Calderoni provides ever changing and often unusual percussions. I can't skip some words about the beutiful Italian lyrics, a political prisoner's chant full of nostalgy and proud, but also a song against war and injustice. After all, the album was titled "Io sono nato libero", meaning I was born free, a plain manifesto. Well, did I justify my opening word refinement? I hope so.

Il giardino del mago (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, 1972)

One of the most influencial prog tracks ever, not only in Italy I mean. This 18 minute suite surely deserves its reputation of visionary work. From the beginning, with its first arpeggio variations, Vittorio Nocenzi's music and Francesco Di Giacomo's lyrics and stentorian performing style, Il giardino reveal itself as a long and unpredictable journey through different and colorful music landscapes. I'll always be astonished by this track's tempo changes and its abundance of keyboard stunts.

The Banco in a '70s photo.

But effects and surprising arrangements are but a garnish to the main course, that's the melodies themselves. How many good ideas, gentle compositions and - above all - that strong and airy main theme! What else? If you never did, please listen to that and let me know...