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SIMPLY BRILLIANT!

maxxroach | felona's big blue bacalada | 08/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Biglietto Per L'Inferno translated "Ticket to Hell", is widely regarded as a one of the best entries in the Italian prog catalog. I disagree. It ranks as a definitive recorded an ANY catalog. This release, the only legitimate release by the band during the Italian prog scene, is almost to good to be true. It is like a rollercoaster set to music. Heavenly, surreal , and emotional, it sedates you and gives the impression of the music crying in its own dark, melancholic beauty. Climbing higher, you can't deny the focus and depth of songwriting of these remarkable songs.Soft as a feather, the gentle flute, delicate guitar work, and emotional Italian vocals combine into one. Straight into the soul. Then the rollercoaster drops, and you're pummeling into even darker territory. This band KICKS, for a while, then stumbles back into melodic beauty. There are a few brighter moments, one in particular that is firmly rooted in traditional Italian music. Instrumentation is lush: fuzzed guitars, flute, 2 keyboardists (primly playing distorted organs) moog, guitar overdubs. Remarkable keyborad textures I have not heard anywhere else. Excellent vocalist who can fit the bill during any phase of the album, with projection, tone, and FEELING. An absolute treasure.The only drawback is that the soundquality of the disk is not too good. Original production is probably not to blame, but this CD version has some tape hiss, which is more noticable on the quieter moments. With music this good, you quickly forget about the hiss.You're too busy enjoying this remarkable album, one of the most compelling offerings in the prog genre."

Yet another gem of Italian prog

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 11/02/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you're at all as familiar with prog rock as me, you know that there are absolutely no shortage of Italian prog bands out there. PFM, Banco, Le Orme, New Trolls, Goblin, Il Balletto di Bronzo, Museo Rosenbach, Il Volo, Jumbo, Campo di Marte, L'Uovo di Colombo, Acqua Fragile, the list goes on, and Biglietto Per L'Inferno is prime example of what I'm talking about. This self-entitled album was originally released in 1974 on a small label called Trident, which also released Dedalus' self-entitled 1973 release, The Trip's Time of Change, and Semiramis' Dedicato a Frazz. Biglietto Per L'Inferno often gets hyped as one of the greatest Italian prog albums, but I wouldn't go that far. I'll tell you why: the worst problem is the really muddy sound quality on the CD reissue (at least the version I have, which is on Vinyl Magic). You really need to turn it up or get a good pair of headphones to be able to hear it all. I'm usually not critical of the sound quality of 20 to 30+ year old albums because I'm fully aware of the technical limitations of the time (something many people need to bear in mind when purchasing a CD reissue of some album from the 1970s), but the problems here are painfully obvious. But aside from that you get yourself a wonderful guitar and flute driven prog album. The best I can come up with is a cross between Osanna's Palepoli and of Il Balletto di Bronzo's YS, although not quite as intense those albums. Biglietto gets classified as heavy prog, and often it does, thanks to those heavy guitar riffs, but there is just as equal amount of more mellow, relaxed, atmospheric passages. The band had two keyboardists, providing piano, Hammond organ and synths (sounds like an ARP 2600). Baffo Banfi was one of the keyboardists, and it's hard to believe that when he pursued a solo career a few years later, he'd be recording music that's much closer to Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze (even going as far as recording for Schulze's Innovative Communications label) than anything he did with Biglietto. The vocals are very pleasant and very non-intrusive to my ears (something you couldn't say of Banco's Franceso di Giacomo or especially Jumbo's Alvero Fella), so you'll have no problems. Not to mention the music of Biglietto is quite complex so it will satisfy those prog fans who think the likes of the Moody Blues and Barclay James Harvest just won't do. "L'Amico Suicida" is prime example of what I'm talking about. It's full of atmosphere, lots of complexities, varying moods, what more could you ask for? My other complaint is why they had to close the album with "Confessione (Strumentale)"? It sounded like all they did was copy the instrumental end of "Confessione" earier in the album and pasted it at the end. Well, it turns out this was a bonus cut, Vinyl Magic simply failed to mention it was one, this instrumental excerpt was originally released as a single. You won't find "Confessione (Strumentale)" if you bought the LP (doesn't matter if its the reprint or the super rare original). Despite the flaws, I still very music recommend this album to all those who enjoy Osanna's Palepoli, and Il Balletto di Bronzo's YS, or Italian prog in general."

Heavy progressive italian classic

anglagard | Sweden | 07/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great album. Its hard, it still have enough timechanges and things going on within the tracks anyway to make it progressive also. There are flutes and heavy distorted sounding keyboards here. The singer? yeah he is ok, but overall you want to get this for it really is a heavy prog classic. If you like bands like Jethro Tull, Osanna and Museo Rosenbach you simply need this album. The Vinyl Magic edition comes with lyrics also. "Confessione" is a real killer, one of many favourites here. I really cant find any weak spots. Turn up the volume!"