Central do Prog

March 19, 2026

Il Segno Dello Zodiaco – Il Segno Dello Zodiaco (1974, LP, Italy)

Tracklist:
A1 Hai Mai Visto 3:20
A2 Dolce Laura (Your Side Of The Bed) 3:32
A3 Vecchia Canzone Nuova 3:22
A4 Mio Padre 5:10
A5 Dormi Cara 4:00
A6 Rimpianto 3:20
B1 Solo Qualcosa In Più 4:15
B2 Un Attimo Di Gelosia 4:10
B3 Odio, Amore (Black Cat Woman) 3:35
B4 Aria D' Estate 4:00
B5 Toccata E Fuga (Dalla "Toccata E Fuga In Re Minore") 4:55

Musicians:
Gianni Borra - Vocal, Flute
Luciano Borra - Guitar
Luigi Borra - Bass
Loris Borra - Drums

Victor Bacchetta – Organ And Piano Victor Bacchetta (1972, LP, Italy)

Tracklist:

A1 Eruption 4:22
A2 Colour My World 4:22
A3 Fire 4:13
A4 Fire And Rain 4:04
A5 Joy To The World 3:30
B1 Introduction 3:20
B2 The Stones Of Years 3:13
B3 Feelin' Alright 5:39
B4 Lucky Man 5:07
B5 The Approaching Storm 3:18

Why this album is not listed on the Italianprog.com database is beyond me. It's Emerson, Lake & Palmer driven keyboard Prog basically with Psych and Pop overtones, composed by Italian conductor, pianist/keyboardist and arranger Victor Bacchetta back in the far 1972. So much Emerson, Lake & Palmer-driven actually that contains even a couple of Emerson, Lake & Palmer covers. Strong Classical influences with tons of acoustic piano and Hammond organ. Most songs are on the keyboard Prog field with lots of organ orgams, but there are strong orchestral Psych Pop flourishes throughout, which significantly lower the value of the album cause they sound outdated.If you love the sound of the Hammond organ, this album has many chances to please you. (apps79)

March 11, 2026

Atmosphera – Lady of Shalott (1977, 2xCD, Israel)

Tracklist:
1. Lady of Shalott (16:24)
2. Cuckoo (Love's Labour's Lost) (16:47)
3. Tomorrow (10:47)
4. Love Is waiting for a Lover (7:58)
5. Cuckoo (2002 alternate version*) (16:25)

Bonus VCD
1. Video-Track (20:47):
- a) Lady of Shalott (Videoclip) (1977)
- b) Me El-ma
- c) MIO Catalog
2. Announcement (0:36)
3. Tomorrow (live in Beit Lessin) (11:00)
4. Lady of Shalott (live at Galei-Tzahal radio) (12:41)
5. Catharsis (Istopy) (7:46)
6. Nightmare (Me El-Ma) (6:31)
7. Toridtagitar (Me El-Ma) (5:22)
8. The Children Dance (Me El-Ma) (8:59)

* New remix with added Mellotron and digital effects

Musicians:
Efrayim Barak / vocals
Moti Fonseka / electric & acoustic guitars
Yuval Rivlin / keyboards
Alon Nadel / bass
Ami Lipner (later Me El-Ma) / drums, percussion, keyboards (6-8), guitar & violin & celllo (6), vocals (7,8)
With:
Ovadiya Aharony / vocals (3,4)
Tsoof Philosof / bass (3,4)
Yaron Bioch / vocals (5,6)
Zeev Winstok / bass (5)

Releases information
Recorded between 1975-1977, restored and remastered by Asaf Carmeli & Erez Siag

ATMOSPHERA, not to be confused with a Brazilian art-rock band with the same name, is an Israeli progressive rock band from the late 70's. They recorded two long, epic pieces for an album with English lyrics (Shakespeare & Lord Tennyson), but the album was too far-out for the small Israeli music industry, so the master tapes were archived and the album was never issued on vinyl. 25 years later, a small collectors' label, MIO records, gathered all the tapes, videos and information on the lost band, and issued the album on CD, with bonus tracks and a videoclip.

ATMOSPHERA's style is "mainstream prog" - heavily influenced by YES's symphonic style. The music is melodic, classical and well-arranged. The band lineup consists of Efrayim Barak on vocals, Moti Fonseka on guitar, Alon Nadel on bass, Yuval Rivlin on keyboards, and Ami Lipner (later re-named himself to Mi El-Ma) on drums. Mi El-Ma, the drummer, is influenced by Bruford's style, Nadel, the bassist, emulates Squire's sound, the keyboardist, Rivlin, uses some of Wakeman's tricks, and even soloist, Barak, sounds very much like Jon Anderson. YES fans will find delight in this highly-capable group of musicians, who offer virtuoso abilities and solid compositional skills.

The double album boasts three major highlights: "Lady of Shalott", "Cuckoo - Alternate Version" (new remix with added Mellotron and digital effects), and the avant-garde "Catharsis" by a different, later line-up called ISTOPY. In 2002 a double CD was released with the debut tracks and some bonus tracks, live renditions, video clips and VCD material. (progarchives)

March 02, 2026

Rinsyoe Kida, Akira Ishikawa & His Count Buffalos = 木田林松栄, 石川晶とカウント・バッファローズ – Tsugaru Jongara Bushi: Drum & Tsugaru Jamisen = 津軽じょんがら節ドラム & 津軽三味線 (1973, LP, Japan)

Bass – 寺川正興 Masaoki Terakawa

Drums – 石川晶 Akira Ishikawa

Piano – 市川秀男 Hideo Ichikawa

Saxophone – 村岡健 Takeru Muraoka

Shamisen [津軽三味線] – 木田林松栄

Trumpet – 羽鳥幸次 Koji Hatori

A unique Japanese funk masterpiece from 1973, in which Rinsyoe Kida, Tsugaru's shamisen Maestro, and Akira Ishikawa, one of Japan's most loved and celebrated leading drummers, as well as experimenter and brilliant composer, performed together. The ancient sound of the shamisen ride on the finest funk and the intense groove of Ishikawa.