Contrappunti [Import]

Le Orme | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 14, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Mercury Italy
• ASIN: B0000071IZ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,473 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Japanese only SHM paper sleeve pressing. Features 2010 remastering. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Le Orme delivers the goods, again, August 10, 2001

By 

BENJAMIN MILER (Veneta, Oregon) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Contrappunti (Audio CD)

I actually own the original Italian LP. At first I thought it was a bit of a letdown compared the consistency and excellency of Felona e Sorona. I was almost ready to give Contrappunti a two star rating, but then it really grew on me. This album finds Le Orme a bit more on the experimental side, and I was a bit thrown off about that, but I got used to it. I do think some of the best keyboard work I've heard from Toni Pagliuca (at least of the Le Orme albums I've heard) can be found here, you get plenty of great lush Moog, string synths, and even a little Mellotron. Let's get with the songs on this album. The title track, all instrumental, sounds exactly like it came off an ELP or Triumvirat album, and this was the big reason why Le Orme was called the Italian ELP, but don't expect much of the rest of the album to sound like that. The second cut, "Frutto Acerbo" is an acoustic number in the grand tradition of Felona e Sorona's "Felona" and "All'Infuori del Tempo". "Aliente" sounds like Le Orme wanted to get funky, so you get yourself clavinet and some cool use of synths. "India" was the band being strange by adding some odd ethnic influences, including synthesizer attempting to sound like a sitar. Also there are some strange synth effects as well. "La Fabbricante D'Angeli" and "Maggio" are more or less typical Le Orme progressive numbers, although the latter is more adventurous, especially the cool synths that start the cut. In between those two cuts is "Notturno" which is basically a piano and synth piece, which sounds like it should have belonged on one of Eno's ambient albums, like Music For Airports. Perhaps the biggest thing missing on Contrappunti is the conceptual flow you find on Felona, so it ends up sounding a little disjointed. But still the same, Contrappunti is a worthwhile album to get, but you are much better off starting with Felona e Sorona, before you come to this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Experimental, March 30, 2003

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Contrappunti (Audio CD)

This CD is somewhat similar to its predecessor "Felona e Serona" in that it opens with a very ELP-like flourish on the title track, segues into a very nice acoustic piece (Frutto Acerbo), and then continues through a series of shorter pieces. What makes this CD more satisfying is that while retaining the trademark moodiness and the great melodies, Le Orme takes somewhat greater risks with their arrangements and compositions. For example, rhythmic experimentation increases as on "Aliante", which is just a 7/8 reworking of the "Apocalypse in 9/8" sub-section from "Suppers Ready" by Genesis, "India" is an odd piece that that uses unusual (for Le Orme) scales (hence the title "India"), and "Notturno" is a dark and atmospheric piece of minimalism played primarily on acoustic piano and organ, with various synthesizer and percussion effects in the background. Unfortunately, this experimentation comes at some cost, and the songs really don't flow as well as on "Felona e Serona" or Uomo di Pezza". Notwithstanding, this is a fantastic piece of music and is the last full-blown progressive work from Le-Orme. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must CD for Italian Prog fans, July 30, 1998

By 

sesalmon (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contrappunti (Audio CD)

In my opinion, Contrappunti shines as Le Orme's finest album. It is a rich tapestry of songs weaving heavy keyboards and haunting guitars, all set to a solid rythmn section. The band are truly great musicians, and it really shows on this fine LP. Great counterpoint on many of the tunes.

My favorite tune is "Frutto Acerbo", a real gem composed on acoustic guitars, piano and mellotron.The highlight though, is the beautiful vocals of Aldo Tagliapietra. This song along is worth the price, and demonstrates why Italian is the best language of music!