Music:
Member Since: 26/08/2007
Band Members: Marco Cecioni (guitar, vocals, 1969-70)
Michele Cupaiuolo (bass, 1969-70)
Lino Ajello (guitar, vocals 1969-73)
Giancarlo Stinga (drums, 1969-73)
Vito Manzari (bass, 1971-73)
Gianni Leone (organ, piano, mellotron, moog, harpsichord, celeste, vocals, 1971-73)
Influences: Meditazione (Sirio 2222, 1970)
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Neve Calda (Sirio 2222, 1970)
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This was one of the most talented Italian groups. Formed in Naples in the late sixties, their first single, "Neve Calda", was released in 1969. The exact line-up behind Il Balletto Di Bronzo's first album is not known as it wasn't mentioned on the record sleeve. Sirio 2222 was one of the best albums released in Italy prior to 1971. This is raw-edged, intelligent, heavy progressive rock at its absolute best - fronted by Lino Ajello's powerful electric guitars (comparable to Jimmy Page, Adrian Gurvitz and Jeff Beck) and an enthusiastic vocalist (comparable to Steve Winwood). Even a slightest blues influence wasn't common for Italian bands at the time. Only a couple of the nine tracks on the album are longer than 4 minutes, but their overwhelming power and great melodies make them irresistible. On "Meditazione", a string quartet and harpsichord add uncommon elements to their music.
With the new band members, Gianni Leone and Vito Manzari, Il Balletto Di Bronzo's sound changed considerably on their masterpiece second LP, Ys (1972). Leone's rich array of keyboards blended with Ajello's extremely heavy guitar style on this unforgettable concept album. The mood here is very sombre and gloomy, with a spine-chilling female soprano voice introducing the main musical theme at the start of "Introduzione". This is revisited with chords on electric guitar much later on "Primo Incontro". After a vocal part accompanied by organ, the rhythm section enters while the moog plays a variation of the main theme.
Further on, jazzy instrumental variations with a baroque touch are played with anguish and despair by Ajello and Leone at full speed, gradually turning into the most frighteningly intense music you can imagine. The remaining tracks share these qualities, and Ys is a really fantastic album, suitable to score a horror film about the death of Pompeii. An English version of it was never finished, although "Introduzione" and "Secondo Incontro" have recently been released on CD. After the "La Tua Casa Comoda" single in 1973, Il Balletto split up.
(Taken from Scented Gardens of the Mind - A guide to the Golden Era of Progressive Rock (1968-1980) in more than 20 European Countries, by Dag Erik Asbjørnsen, Borderline Productions)
Type of Label: Major