Io Come Io 1972

"In the year of 1972 the Italian Progressive rock was developing almost all the slopes that existed in this context, as it shows are the works of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Premiata Forneria Marconi and Le Orme, among other very many groups, but remarcable it is the quick maturity of many of them in his sound and that almost all of them competed with the great names of world-wide the Progressive rock, it is the case of Yes, Genesis, Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP), and King Crimson, among others.

There is no doubt that great names many of these Italian groups and that its real and true one influence exerted it with the live in concert presentations and the spreading of their work, in this case with albums and simple that appeared in the noticeable world-wide and national markets.

Between all of them there is a group that beginning formally activities at the end of 1970 named Il Rovescio della Medaglia and the publication of this, its second titled disc Io Come Io, that is one of hidden jewels of the Progressive, full Rock of harmonic findings of very strong sonority, with a struggle sound and a line noticeably and oriented to the hard sound, heavy of the Progressive Rock. And that contains one of the best ones and more obtained works done between melodies touched by a distorted fuzzy bass, distorted guitar and an electrical one, that using an effect of distortion known like overdrive and fuzztone, the heaviest sound created than I have listened in an instrument of these, and that it resounds as giant in all the disc, without a doubt touching wildest and crude musical notes, harmonies and riffs that remembers of a Progressive group!

The group was integrated by Enzo Vita. - guitar, Ballarini. Pino - vocal and flute, Stefano Urso. – electric bass and Gino Campoli. - drums and this formation that is one of the best ones than have left the Italian Progressive rock offers this great disc to us which very it is not known by most of the fans the Progressive rock, nevertheless is of the albums more complexes as far as sound and execution of the subjects, are practically 28 minutes of the best form to touch a conceptual disc, that in this case is on the philosophy of Hegel, that speaks on the relation of subject object, but nevertheless, what excels are not the content of the lyrics, but the musical execution that is of highest flights, an interaction between the guitar of Vita and with effect overdrive and fuzz on the part of the bass of Urso, touching small classic scales directly distilled of the Italian masters and German ones, and that not very often has been made of this form; masters of the counterpoint, with subtle and innovating notes, that interaction between these two great ones of its instrument is carried out with singular dexterity in all the disc, and with improvised ornamentals variations, but with very concise subjects, meticulously made and prodigiously executed, that surprise the listener by the subtlety, it forces and delivery that does everyone in its instrument, the drum in charge of Campoli, very discreet but essential, and the voice of Ballarini that in all the recording, is precise and by its dramatic temperament, his modern harmonies is overwhelming with new sap the interaction of the group. A sound very dominant, furious and very little characteristic in the Italian scene of that then and which I consider one of the heaviest discs than has done in those latitudes, and that in all along the sound takes advantage of the obstinate bass playing one to recreate a mysterious atmosphere, dark and mystical, that remembers me to the fact by the excellent Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler and that used in his first works with that group.

Combined to previous also the electrical guitar of very heavy executed Vita and combining excelsos skillfully agreed and riffs, with delicate and brief acoustic passages that fit perfectly with the dark atmosphere of the disc. I believe that he is one of best discs than they have become in that country and that nevertheless it undergoes even of the ignorance of this mágnum opus by most of the admirers and specialists in Progressive Rock, since for the year 1973 this group would record what its masterpiece is considered: Contaminazione. Tending to devaluate unjustly to this disc, object of the review and to the first called album the Bibbia of 1971.

It is necessary to also mention that the production of the disc this made very well, in general terms, to grief that does not notice much the work of the drummer, since the guitar and the bass dominate much the sound. The cover also has an interesting history, the first editions contained a metal currency that was designed by the florentino artist Brandimarte, this edition is very rare now. The following editions left with a flat, dark bottom, and other that contained a hole in the place where it was the medallion. And also with base in this point I would like to stand out that in most of Progressive works, the covers or covers of discs were essential part within the recording or album and that they reflected the attitude or the atmosphere that the disc wanted to transmit and that, in most of the cases was true masterpieces. Let us go to the songs:

There is no doubt that the group is musical and composers of surprising fecundity, in the end use an efficient and fresh rate, combined with guitar/bass, and correct a single one of guitar, without a doubt a musical and hard absolute piece, like the Hegelian philosophy! Excellent.

Finally it is necessary to add that by its conception of the chromatist, to give to each line unaccustomed amplitude and elegance, excels polyphonic refinement, combined with an incessant and fierce rate. And all the contained songs are characterized by a capable structure, where melody prevails and where the group is pleased in valorizing the different sonorous planes, the games and the rings of the instrument as well as the baroque interaction of the guitar and the bass which they obviously denote the influence of musicians like J. S..Bach or Vivaldi, and who one does not recognize them by the so aggressive form to touch causes them that this it is an essential piece of any Progressive collection."