Next September, one of Italy's greatest progressive rock bands performs for the first time in Montreal, as Le Orme headlines the fourth edition of the FMPM. Founded in 1966, Le Orme have released 18 albums, have headlined almost every significant music festival while maintaining a loyal fan base in Italy, and continue to produce acclaimed studio material forty years after their inception.
After releasing several beat and psych singles, the classic trio formation of Aldo Tagliapietra, Michi dei Rossi, and Toni Pagliuca was in place by 1970. This formation released four canonical Italian prog releases during this time, "Collage", "Uomo di Pezza", "Felona e Sorona", and finally "Contrappunti". Like many of the more popular Italian groups, Le Orme tried their hand with an English release, with "Felona & Sorona" coming out on Charisma with translated lyrics by Peter Hammill. Due to the instrumental configuration of keyboards, bass, and drums, and with a very classical sound, it is easy to compare this period to Emerson, Lake & Palmer, without the maudlin stabs at honky tonk and the like.
In the late 70s a fourth member joined on guitar, and releases such as "Florian" and "Piccola Rapsodia dell'Ape" take on a different flavour, with an emphasis on acoustic textures. In the 80s the group was down to the core trio but less active. A reunion took place in the late 90s with the release of "Il Fiume", and a well-received appearance in Quebec City (among others). The group was now a quartet, with Michele Bon and Francesco Sartori sharing Pagliuca's old keyboard duties.
Not content to rest on their laurels, this decade has seen the release of two conceptual studio works, "Elementi" and "l'Infinito". Unlike many progressive groups who have continued from the early 70s to today, Le Orme's current work is considered by many to be of the same quality as their classic period albums. Le Orme headlined NEARFest several years ago and a CD/DVD release called "Live in Pennsylvania" came out this year to commemorate that event. Le Orme is now back to a trio formation, with Michele Bon handling all keyboards along with stalwarts Tagliapietra and dei Rossi, and have maintained a busy gig schedule in Italy this year. They are currently at work on a new album.
In September, Montreal will be the place to be, as Le Orme joins a top caliber line-up including Magenta, DFA, Thieves' Kitchen, and Rouge Ciel. More information about the festival, including our official hotel, is available at http://www.fmpm.net.
Showing posts with label le orme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label le orme. Show all posts
22 November 2008
27 June 2008
Looking back at my NEARfest acquisitions
Here's a quick look, one week later, at how I am faring with the new music acquired at NEARfest 2008:
Le Orme - Live in Pennsylvania 2-CD/1-DVD set. Sound quality is excellent. Video is also very very good...of course, I had a 20 minute tease of this on the NEARfest 2005 DVD. UNFORTUNATELY, this is not their full set, as it excises the material from Collage as well as their rendition of Rondo. Still, a wonderful reminder of seeing this great Italian progressive band.
The Red Masque - Fossileyes. Very good stuff. A bit shocking, actually...their last release had several expansive tracks. The material here is shorter, punchier, more metallic...and every bit as edgy and avant as their past efforts. This is a long awaited album indeed...
Pure Reason Revolution - Live at NEARfest. Post production helped boost what was an energetic set marred by level issues. Harmonies sound richer, thanks to the ability to bring Chloe's voice up in the mix. Are they prog? Who cares! They were energetic, trippy, and very cool.
Strawbs - Live at the Calderone on Witchwood Records. With yesterday's surprising yet not overly so announcement that John Hawken was leaving the Strawbs again, buying this live release (which does not feature him) seems almost...prophetic. Sound quality is a bit rough, as I think this was sourced from a multiple generation off air recording...but this is Strawbs at their rocking best. Well nigh essential.
DFA - Work in Progress Live and 4th. Haven't gotten in as many listens to these, but I like what I am hearing so far. Mostly instrumental Italian prog with a bit of a jazzier bent.
Progday 2001 2-CD set. Only one listen in, and there's a lot to swallow here. Only really familiar with the Muffins and Ars Nova, so there's some work to do here.
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Di Terra and Canto di Primavera. Two totally different sides to Banco. Di Terra is all instrumental and an unmitigated classic of the genre, while Canto di Primavera is shorter, song based vocal music, almost verging on pop. But both are excellent, and easily reward multiuple listens.
Kingfisher Sky - s/t. Haven't listened to yet :-)
Gerard - Sighs of the Water. Again, no listens yet. But I liked them when they played live at NEARfest 2002.
Le Orme - Live in Pennsylvania 2-CD/1-DVD set. Sound quality is excellent. Video is also very very good...of course, I had a 20 minute tease of this on the NEARfest 2005 DVD. UNFORTUNATELY, this is not their full set, as it excises the material from Collage as well as their rendition of Rondo. Still, a wonderful reminder of seeing this great Italian progressive band.
The Red Masque - Fossileyes. Very good stuff. A bit shocking, actually...their last release had several expansive tracks. The material here is shorter, punchier, more metallic...and every bit as edgy and avant as their past efforts. This is a long awaited album indeed...
Pure Reason Revolution - Live at NEARfest. Post production helped boost what was an energetic set marred by level issues. Harmonies sound richer, thanks to the ability to bring Chloe's voice up in the mix. Are they prog? Who cares! They were energetic, trippy, and very cool.
Strawbs - Live at the Calderone on Witchwood Records. With yesterday's surprising yet not overly so announcement that John Hawken was leaving the Strawbs again, buying this live release (which does not feature him) seems almost...prophetic. Sound quality is a bit rough, as I think this was sourced from a multiple generation off air recording...but this is Strawbs at their rocking best. Well nigh essential.
DFA - Work in Progress Live and 4th. Haven't gotten in as many listens to these, but I like what I am hearing so far. Mostly instrumental Italian prog with a bit of a jazzier bent.
Progday 2001 2-CD set. Only one listen in, and there's a lot to swallow here. Only really familiar with the Muffins and Ars Nova, so there's some work to do here.
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Di Terra and Canto di Primavera. Two totally different sides to Banco. Di Terra is all instrumental and an unmitigated classic of the genre, while Canto di Primavera is shorter, song based vocal music, almost verging on pop. But both are excellent, and easily reward multiuple listens.
Kingfisher Sky - s/t. Haven't listened to yet :-)
Gerard - Sighs of the Water. Again, no listens yet. But I liked them when they played live at NEARfest 2002.
23 June 2008
NEARfest 2008 post-fest wrapup part 1
Yeah, I blew all the posting last week. A lot happened. I'm on a more even keel today though, so things should pick back up. In the first part of my festival wrap-up, I'm going to post my list of swag I brought back.
It's a significantly longer than I thought it would be...
MY MUST BUYS
I had a short list of titles I had to buy. If I got these the rest didn't matter. I got all three of my must buys:
Le Orme - Live in Pennsylvania 2-CD/1-DVD set. Sadly not the whole show...it misses Collage and Rondo. But still nice to have about 100 minutes of the 2 hour set.
The Red Masque - Fossileyes. Got it early enough to score the promo DVD along with it.
Nice.
Pure Reason Revolution - Live at NEARfest. Does what it says on the label.
'IMPULSE BUYS'
This is kinda everything else :-)
Strawbs - Live at the Calderone on Witchwood Records
DFA - Work in Progress Live
DFA - 4th (both of these I got at Moonjune on the 2 for $25 deal)
Progday 2001 2-CD set (for 5 bucks I complete the collection)
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Di Terra (my friend Mark Guenther kindly picked this up for me)
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Canto di Primavera
Kingfisher Sky (the preview on the screen and PA sold this one)
Gerard - can't remember the title (my friend Kevin Cosentino was kind enough to pick this one up)
Fireballet t-shirt (free! and not in my size!)
Fireballet CD sampler (free! and IN my size!)
NEARfest 2008 T-shirt (in progfan size! dark grey with the dual twisted dragon logo)
NEARfest 2008 programme (for which a story exists for later)
It's a significantly longer than I thought it would be...
MY MUST BUYS
I had a short list of titles I had to buy. If I got these the rest didn't matter. I got all three of my must buys:
Le Orme - Live in Pennsylvania 2-CD/1-DVD set. Sadly not the whole show...it misses Collage and Rondo. But still nice to have about 100 minutes of the 2 hour set.
The Red Masque - Fossileyes. Got it early enough to score the promo DVD along with it.
Nice.
Pure Reason Revolution - Live at NEARfest. Does what it says on the label.
'IMPULSE BUYS'
This is kinda everything else :-)
Strawbs - Live at the Calderone on Witchwood Records
DFA - Work in Progress Live
DFA - 4th (both of these I got at Moonjune on the 2 for $25 deal)
Progday 2001 2-CD set (for 5 bucks I complete the collection)
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Di Terra (my friend Mark Guenther kindly picked this up for me)
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - Canto di Primavera
Kingfisher Sky (the preview on the screen and PA sold this one)
Gerard - can't remember the title (my friend Kevin Cosentino was kind enough to pick this one up)
Fireballet t-shirt (free! and not in my size!)
Fireballet CD sampler (free! and IN my size!)
NEARfest 2008 T-shirt (in progfan size! dark grey with the dual twisted dragon logo)
NEARfest 2008 programme (for which a story exists for later)
08 February 2008
Le Orme LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA live release info
Le Orme headlined the 2005 iteration of NEARfest and received rapturous ovations from an audience enthralled by their lush Italian progressive music. A brief excerpt of their crowing work Felona e Sorona was included on the official NEARfest 2005 DVD, but the band has announced a 1 DVD/2 CD release titled Live in Pennsylvania which will (I hope) contain the full performance.
It was a heck of a set they performed, too...
L'infinito
Una dolceza nuova
Gioco di bimba
La porta chiusa
Contrappunti
Cemento armato
Felona e sorona
Collage
Sguardo verso il cielo
Rondo e inno di mameli
Collage (ripresa)
According to Le Orme's website, the release should be available soon/now, with widespread Italian release in a March-ish timeframe. My hope is that copies will be available at NEARfest 2008 ticket sales day on 29 March...I'd love to come home with a copy and relive a great show.
In other Le Orme news, violinist/keyboardist Andrea Bassato has chosen this juncture to go his own way:
" Dear friends, after ten years of work with Le Orme I feel the need and desire to walk my way - musical and personal - through new paths and times have come for a fresh new start. As you know, everything in life constantly changes and nothing lasts forever.
It was a very intense period that I'll always remember as one of the most training ad important human and professional experience. I'm grateful to Aldo, Michi and Michele for having given me a unique opportunity and having left me a rare and precious legacy of experience and knowledge. I did my best to pay back their trust and not to disappoint their expectations : I hope I got this goal.
I want to say a very special thanks to Le Orme fans for having welcome me with great affection from the very first time and for having supported me with constant warm and exteem; deep and true friendships are born with many of them and I feel they will be long lasting.
Right now the DVD containing the gig we had some time ago in the USA is going to be released : a really amazing live document of what in my memory has been one of our best performances ever and that comes for me, after two remarkable studio records, as a perfect end of all the time spent together with my band mates. I couldn't ask for a better occasion to end this long adventure."
It was a heck of a set they performed, too...
L'infinito
Una dolceza nuova
Gioco di bimba
La porta chiusa
Contrappunti
Cemento armato
Felona e sorona
Collage
Sguardo verso il cielo
Rondo e inno di mameli
Collage (ripresa)
According to Le Orme's website, the release should be available soon/now, with widespread Italian release in a March-ish timeframe. My hope is that copies will be available at NEARfest 2008 ticket sales day on 29 March...I'd love to come home with a copy and relive a great show.
In other Le Orme news, violinist/keyboardist Andrea Bassato has chosen this juncture to go his own way:
" Dear friends, after ten years of work with Le Orme I feel the need and desire to walk my way - musical and personal - through new paths and times have come for a fresh new start. As you know, everything in life constantly changes and nothing lasts forever.
It was a very intense period that I'll always remember as one of the most training ad important human and professional experience. I'm grateful to Aldo, Michi and Michele for having given me a unique opportunity and having left me a rare and precious legacy of experience and knowledge. I did my best to pay back their trust and not to disappoint their expectations : I hope I got this goal.
I want to say a very special thanks to Le Orme fans for having welcome me with great affection from the very first time and for having supported me with constant warm and exteem; deep and true friendships are born with many of them and I feel they will be long lasting.
Right now the DVD containing the gig we had some time ago in the USA is going to be released : a really amazing live document of what in my memory has been one of our best performances ever and that comes for me, after two remarkable studio records, as a perfect end of all the time spent together with my band mates. I couldn't ask for a better occasion to end this long adventure."
07 February 2008
Tiles and discipline. news...and a bit more besides
...The official Tiles "Fly Paper" CD release party details for Sunday, March 9th at the Magic Bag Theater in Ferndale, MI. Joining us for a special one-hour opening set will be the return of Discipline - reunited and hard at work preparing for their appearance at NEARfest X this summer.
Tiles with special guests Discipline
Sunday, March 9th
Tickets $10 and are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets & the Magic Bag box office - 18 and over please
Doors open at 7pm - show starts at 7:30pm
The Magic Bag
22920 Woodward Avenue
Ferndale, MI 48220
Telephone: (248) 544-3030
And in other newsy-type things, this time from Chad Hutchinson of NEARfest/Progressive Arts/NEARfest Records fame:
"We are starting work on a PRR live album, the NF06 DVD, & a Le Orme 2CD set. Btw Keith Emerson is buying his audio and video. More news to come."
Tiles with special guests Discipline
Sunday, March 9th
Tickets $10 and are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets & the Magic Bag box office - 18 and over please
Doors open at 7pm - show starts at 7:30pm
The Magic Bag
22920 Woodward Avenue
Ferndale, MI 48220
Telephone: (248) 544-3030
And in other newsy-type things, this time from Chad Hutchinson of NEARfest/Progressive Arts/NEARfest Records fame:
"We are starting work on a PRR live album, the NF06 DVD, & a Le Orme 2CD set. Btw Keith Emerson is buying his audio and video. More news to come."
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