One of the many criminally overlooked bands by Italian progressive enthusiasts, Il Paese Dei Balocchi is rarely mentioned when people speak of Italian proggers like Orme, Banco, and Osanna. And yet they left us with one of the most delicately beautiful and esoteric titles from the classic period. Formed in Rome in 1971, they convened with producer Adriano Fabi and recorded this gem in only two weeks. Orchestral director Claudio Gizzi played a crucial role in the string arrangements, carefully rewritten and adapted to the rock sections of the band.This is not a typical Italian symphonic album beyond the fact that it is unpredictable and interesting, rather it takes some of the basics of Italian symphonic progressive and blends them with both classical music and space-rock influences, from the chimes of a nursery to the deep gothic pillars of a church organ. The result is like the soundtrack of a daydream with a rolling palette of one little vision after another.The album displays awesome keyboard driven progressive creating the most interesting melodies and warm atmospheres. It is however, their use of the full orchestra that truly seperates it apart for so many others.The band played several of the large Italian festivals and TV appearances in 1972 and 1973 before splitting up. Line-up / Musicians Fabio Fabiani/guitars Sanaro Laudadio/vocals,drums Marcello Martorelli/bass Armando Paone/vocals,organ Discography Il Paese dei Balocchi 1972
1.Il trionfo dell'egoismo, della violenza, della presunazione e dell'infifferenza 2.Impotenza dell'umilta della rassegnazione 3.Canzone della speranza 4.Evasione 5.Hidden song 5.Risveglio e visione del paese dei balocchi 6.Ingresso e incontro con i Baloccanti 7.Canzone della verita 8.Narcisismo della perfezione 9.Verita dell'intuizione fantastica 10.Ritorno alla condizione umana
