Semiramis - Dedicato a Frazz 1973 ~ software for linux

Semiramis is one of the many "one-shot" bands of the 70's Italy. Their only album is one of my favorite albums of the 70's Italian art rock. Combining elements of Italian folk, heavy progressive passages (especially in the middle of the album), Baroque church music, jazz, classical, and a good dose of insanity. "Dedicato A Frazz" pounds every sense, challenges every synapse in a flurry of ideas. There are more symphonic, keyboard-led parts as well where SEMIRAMIS may sound closer YES, GENESIS or BANCO. Their first album was recorded in 1973 when only 16-year old.Semiramis was a teenagers five-piece from Rome mainly based on the guitar of Michele Zarrillo and twin keyboards of Giampiero Artegiani and Michele's brother Maurizio Zarrillo.The basic nucleus had been formed around 1970 by Maurizio Zarrillo and cousins Reddavide and Pulvano, all of them being 15-year old, and their first singer was Maurizio Macos (real name Macioce). In 1972 they were joined by Michele Zarrillo, younger brother of keyboardist Maurizio, that had previously played with I Piccoli Lord and considered a gifted guitarist. The name Semiramis was chosen, from a queen of Babylon, and the group even played at Rome historical Villa Pamphili festival in 1972, but original drummer Pulvano had to leave the musical career as he was the only one with a regular job.He was replaced by a long time friend of the group, Paolo Faenza, who took with him another keyboardist, Giampiero Artegiani, to enrich the group's sound.Released by Trident label the album, Dedicato a Frazz, had a nice gatefold cover designed by Gordon Faggetter, an English painter based in Rome and working with RCA. Complex rhythm changes and a good guitar/keyboards interplay are the main ingredients of this album, not perfectly produced but still regarded by many as one of the top Italian prog LP's.The band had an intense live activity in most of the major open-air festivals of the time, and kept playing even after the album release until 1974, with a few line-up changes, preparing a never released second album.

Line-up / Musicians

Paolo Faenza/drums,vibraphone,tympani
Marcello Reddovide/bass,bells
Gianpiero Artegiani/synthesizer,guitars
Michele Zarrillo/guitars,vocals
Maurizio Zarrillo/piano,organ,synthesizers

Discography(Album)

Dedicato a Frazz 1973