LE ORME (The Footsteps) is, probably together with PFM, the best known Italian progressive group. They started their career in 1966 playing Beat and Psychedelic Pop music and in 1971 they switched to Progressive Rock with classical overtones. Some influences would be Pink Floyd, Emerson Lake & Palmer and maybe Barcley James Harvest, but the fact that they sing in Italian sets them apart. They say that English is a natural fit for Rock'n'Roll and that may be true. I wonder if Italian is likewise a natural language for ballads. Le Orme certainly make a good case for it. This compilation CD covers their best years (1970-1980) and comes in single and double CD editions. The 2CD edition contains 37 tracks, virtually everything you'll ever need from them. CD1 starts off with popsike 1970 single "Il profumo delle viole" and proceeds with covering the period from Collage (1971) to Contrapunti (1974), mostly symphonic prog in the ELP-vein. "Gioco Di Bimba" from 1972's Uomo Di Pezza was their biggest hit of the period, a gorgeous baroque-pop ballad reminiscent of Aphrodite's Child's "Rain And Tears" and Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade Of Pale". CD2 covers the years from 1975's Smogmagica (containing their hit ballad "Amico Di Ieri") to 1980's Piccola Rapsodia Dell' Ape. It is a more varied collection, containing forays into new wave and acoustic baroque-inspired numbers. Although most prefer their earlier more bombastic symphonic prog, I find the soft and melodic neo-classical sound best exemplified in 1979's Florian more to my liking. For a complete discography and individual album reviews I'd suggest trying their page at progarchives. Progheads should definitely check them out - they will discover a group at the least equal to the English prog giants from that era like Genesis, Yes, ELP etc.
**** for Sguardo verso il cielo, Una dolcezza nuova, Gioco di bimba, Figure di cartone, Felona felona, All'infuori del tempo, Frutto acerbo, Amico di ieri, Verità nascoste, Se io lavoro, Calipso.
*** for Il profumo delle viole, I ricordi più belli, Collage, Era inverno, Cemento armato, Morte di un fiore, La porta chiusa, Aspettando l'alba, La solitudine di chi protegge il mondo, Ritratto di un mattino, India, La fabbricante d'angeli, Sera, Primi passi, Immensa distesa, Canzone d'amore, E' finita una stagione, In ottobre, Regina al Troubadour, Storia o leggenda, Un angelo, Florian Fine di un viaggio, La mia sposa bianca, Il treno, Buona notte
*** for Il profumo delle viole, I ricordi più belli, Collage, Era inverno, Cemento armato, Morte di un fiore, La porta chiusa, Aspettando l'alba, La solitudine di chi protegge il mondo, Ritratto di un mattino, India, La fabbricante d'angeli, Sera, Primi passi, Immensa distesa, Canzone d'amore, E' finita una stagione, In ottobre, Regina al Troubadour, Storia o leggenda, Un angelo, Florian Fine di un viaggio, La mia sposa bianca, Il treno, Buona notte
here you can find links to the complete Lo Orme discography:
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