Il Balletto di Bronzo - Sirio 2222 (1970/2007 JP Remastered Ltd. Mini LP Edition)
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Album: Il Balletto di Bronzo - Sirio 2222 (K2 24-bit Remastered Ltd. Mini LP Edition)
Released: 1970 (2007)
Genre: Heavy Prog
BMG Japan - BVCM-37952
...In 1970 their first LP was released for the same record lable, "Sirio 2222". It's still today one of the best albums published in Italy: their rock is very much "alive", at times extremely hard, and above all, the beginnings of progressive music are featured in here, especially in the fine suite "Missione Sirio 2222". The phrasing between electric guitar and drums is very nice and the participation of other instruments (f.e. harmonica) is always precise. It seams almost impossible that an Italian group could have released an album like this in 1970 while in the same year professional groups like Camaleonti were coming out with "Eternity". It's too bad that "Sirio 2222" was not promoted by the RCA lable, wich potentially could have gotten the job done... - "The Return Of Italian Pop", updated English edition
The 1st album by Balletto had a different line-up from the one on the superb Ys. But Sirio 2222 is surely worth a listen and is a crucial work for the italian scene. What you can listen here is hard rock with a psichedelic flavour and reminescences of the '60 beat. But the classical influence on the track "Meditazione" represents the turning point towards the progressive world. The fans of Balletto won't regret giving a try to it. - ProgArchives.com
Formed in Naples in late 60's, with the initial name of Battitori Selvaggi, playing in Nato bases in Italy.
They changed name to Il Balletto di Bronzo with the first line-up, with two good singles in 1969 and 1970 and even recording some tracks in spanish (released in 1988 as a single and in 1990 on the Il re del castello LP) and their first album, Sirio 2222. The album is now considered as one of the rarest of the italian prog era, and is halfway between late 60's psych-influenced pop and prog.
The long suite Missione Sirio 2222 is one of the best tracks, while most of the others are in the 3-minute typical length of the time. Some collectors consider it as one of the best in the italian prog field, others think it's still not a mature group's work. Without doubt a very important one.
In 1971 Gianni Leone (from the very first Citta Frontale) enters the group along with bassist Manzari (from the Rome band Quelle Strane Cose Che) and a new Balletto is born, much more in a symphonic vein and dominated by his keyboards. Second album released in 1972 on Polydor, Ys (from the name of a legendary town in Brittany), is a masterpiece, giving the group the success they deserved. Inexplicably an english-sung version, ready to release, was never issued.
Group disbanded in 1973 after a final single, Gianni Leone having a short solo career under the name of Leo Nero, the others went to live in Sweden and disappeared from the italian music scene.
Gianni Leone has reformed the band in late 90's with bassist Romolo Amici and drummer Ugo Vantini from the neo-prog group Divae on whose 1995 CD Gianni had played; they made a series of concerts from which the live CD Trys has been recorded - ItalianProg.com
1 Un Posto (03:24)
2 Eh Eh Ah Ah (04:03)
3 Neve Calda (02:57)
4 Ma Ti Aspetteró (03:23)
5 Meditazione (03:54)
6 Girotondo (03:16)
7 Incantesimo (06:48)
8 Ti Risveglierai Con Me (02:44)
9 Missione Sirio 2222 (09:41)
Marco Cecioni - vocals, guitar
Miky Cupaiolo - bass
Gianchi Stinga - drums
Lino Ajello - guitar
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