Search - Rovescio Della Medaglia :: Contaminazione

A very rare proggresive masterpiece!!!!

Carlos I. Alsina | San Juan, Puerto Rico United States | 06/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Il Rovescio della medaglia fue una banda italiana poco conocida si la comparamos con PFM, Le Orme, Aria o Maxophone, probablemente porque para las fechas en la que se concibe esta grabaciòn no existìa el INTERNET. Enriquez, Vita, Bardotti y Sergepy se inspiraron en Johann Sebastian Bach y lograron componer una obra que nos recuerda el estilo barroco al que imprimen un especial y curioso sentido progresivo que,unido a lo revolucionario de la lìrica, hacen de este CD uno muy adelantado a sus tiempos (fue grabado en 1973). Aunque considero que es un disco conceptual que exige escucharse de un tiròn, destacan La mia musica, Cella 503, Contaminazione 1760 y La grande fuga.....Despuès de escucharlo varias veces tengo que admitir que esta obra maestra del rock progresivo compara con In the court of the Crimson King de King Crimson....y es una exigencia tenerlo en su colecciòn.....Il Rovescio della medagliawas a great italian band not so well known like PFM, Le Orme, Aria or Maxophone. Unfortunatly, there was no INTERNET at that time (1973). Enriquez,Vita,Bardotti and Sergepy inspired in the great clavicordist and barroque musical genious, J.S. Bach and made a very rare album adding progressive elements combined with social and political lyrics that at the end the result were a outstanding masterpiece....I consider Contaminazione a conceptual album that you should enjoy completly....but La mia musica, Cella 503, Contaminazione 1760 and La grande fuga........are simply fantastic....After listened well, this CD is one of it kind, like it was in 1969 King Crimson, "In the court of the Crimson King". It is a must to have it in your collection......."

Wonderful combination of prog and classical

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 08/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For many years I have been familiar with Contamination, the English language version of this album, because I owned the LP. I thought that album was a wonderful combination of prog and classical, specifically that of Bach, my complaint being that the English vocals didn't go natural for that band (much like PFM's Photos of Ghosts). Now I have got the original Italian language Contaminazione, which while sounds all pretty much the same (maybe some slight differences in places), the Italian vocals are definately an improvement. Prior to Contaminazione, the band had already released two hard rock albums, Io Come Io (1972) and La Bibbia (1971), neither not too well liked in the prog rock community (although I don't think La Bibbia is that bad - it's actually pretty good, albeit rough and unpolished hard rock). But then the band added a keyboardist and totally switched directions. The band hired Argentine-born Luis Enriquez Bacalov to conduct the orchestra (he already already did this for Osanna's Milano Calibro 9 and New Trolls' Concerto Grosso Per 1). Here the band bases their music on Bach's Well Tempered Clavier, with lyrics that tell the story of a Scottish musician so obsessed with the music of Bach he thought he was the composer's son, and eventually went insane. While the Moody Blues, Procol Harum, Renaissance, Rick Wakeman, Ekseption, Deep Purple, New Trolls, and Osanna had all explored rock with orchestra concepts, RDM decided to do their own, and made a great album in the process. Lots of great guitar and keyboards (Mini Moog, VCS-3, ARP 2600, Hammond organ, Eminent, harpsichord, pipe organ). There are some passages that bring to mind New Trolls' Concerto Grosso Per 1, I guess that's no surprise, given Bacalov was involved in both. There are some rather experimental passages, and short interludes that go between actual songs like "Ora Non Ricordo Piu`", "Lei Sei Tu: Lei", "La Mia Musica", "Johann", "Scotland Machine", and "Alzo Un Muro Elettrico". Often this involves grand use of organ, strange electronic effects, orchestra, the occasional jazzy passage, and so on. I thought the band ran a bit out of steam with the final piece, "La Grande Fuga", but still this album is deserving as one of the all-time great prog/classical hybrids. If you enjoy the Osanna and New Trolls albums mentioned, Bach, and Italian prog in general, this album is another must."

One of 5 best progressive rock

P. Guilmette | Quebec, Canada | 08/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Je possède la version anglaise en LP depuis les années 70, j'ai récemment acquis la version italienne que je trouve plus fine. Le mélange de classico-baroque, synthés, rock et un brin de jazz est unique. Le son notamment les cordes, les claviers et les voix sont magnifiques. Par les interprétations touchantes nous décelons l'obsession d'un musicien qui a aimé Bach jusqu'à en devenir fou (particulièrement dans 'La mia musica'). RDM n'est pas aussi connu que groupes comme PFM ou Gentle Giant mais sont tout autant dans une classe à part. Bref: Un chef d'Oeuvre.

I had the english version LP in the 70's, and I recently purchase the Italian version which I find more sensitive. The mix of classisism, synth, rock, a bit of jazz, is unique. The sound in particular the strings, organ and the voice is magnificent. Thru the sensible interpretation we feel the obsession of the musician who loved Bach so much that he became insane. RDM is not a well known band but they are for me in the same class as PFM, Gentle Giant. A masterpiece."