Customer Reviews

Io Sono Nato Libero

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This superb, high quality recording (remastered in 2002) opens with the 15'43 Canto nomade per un Prigioniero Politico which is ushered in by soft synthesizer lines and Francesco di Giacomos remarkable vocals (in Italian). The piece swiftly kicks into gear however and the quiet introduction gives way to breathtakingly intricate ensemble work, metric complexity, and soaring synthesizer leads (there are two keyboard players). Banco has an experimental/avante-garde side, which becomes apparent about halfway through Canto nomade per un Prigioniero Politico. Before panic sets in, I would like to point out that the Banco take on the avante garde never strays outside the boundaries of rock and is actually quite pleasant. Finally, there are some very nice classical guitar parts (played by Rodolfo Maltese I think), which are alternated with a more experimental percussion based section. All in all, it is a very busy 15'43. The second track on the CD, Non mi Rompete, is a pastoral, acoustic piece that features a tasteful moog solo. This quieter song provides a stunning contrast with the opening extravaganza. La Citta Sottile is ushered in with some excellent acoustic piano playing and then launches into a characteristically proggish romp with great string synthesizer parts. The 9'54 Dopo...Niente e piu lo Stresso is somewhat similar to the first track, while the closing piece Traccia II is a really neat, albeit short showcase for the Nocenzi's and their arsenal of synthesizers. This recording is quite possibly one of the finest to come out of the Italian scene and should be considered a must have for fans of progressive rock. Highly recommended in addition to their excellent, eponymous debut (1972), Darwin! (1972), and Banco (1975).

The best LPs of Banco del Mutuo soccorso are Darwin, Come in un'ultima cena and Io sono nato libero. This one is probably their best album. A bit more mature than Darwin and a bit more creative than Come in un'ultima cena. The keyboard background never sounded more righ and gorgeous, Di Giacomo's voice never sounded more precious, Rodolfo Maltese's acoustic guitar never sounded more delicate. It is not a case if their most famous song among the general, non-prog-rock-maniac public (at least here in Italy), that is, Non mi rompete, is contained in this LP. All the songs in this CD are compelling, moving, well-played and wonderfully-sung. It could be the first CD you can buy if you wish to get acquainted with this great Italian prog-rock band--if you cannot afford the 2 CDs collection, I mean!

So, if you do not believe Bocelli is all Italy can offer to the world, try this.

When I first stumbled across this album in its LP form in Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1974, I had to buy it. I had already at that time become enchanted with Italian progressive rock, and the incredible cover art work on this one made me buy it. As far as the music is concerned, I was instantly captivated by the opening piece, "Canto Nomado....", which takes up most of the first side. It is in turn dark, brooding, exhilirating, and triumphant. The following piece, "Non Mi Rompete", sets a completely different mood and tone. The song is of a slumberer who wants to stay asleep in his dreams. The opening song on side two, "La Citta'sottile" is a a marvel of composition. Gianni Nocenzi's hypnotic four-note piano theme, repeated over and over, forms a foundation for the piece. It describes a madman sitting up high on the beams of a building.The penultimate piece. "Dopo Niente E'piu..." concerns soldiers returning home on a train from fighting a war at Stalingrad, and seeing the faces of the mothers and the white-bearded old men who come out to greet them. A masterpiece. Musically peerless, lyrical yet emotionally intense. I have never listened to anyone equal to Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, very possibly the best band of all time.

this is my first exposure to italian symphonic prog and i am staggered! this is simply one of the finest pieces of music of any genre that i have ever heard! every musician seems a virtuoso, francesco di giacomo voice is one of the most beautiful instruments of any piece of music i have in my collection. to call this a great rock and roll record is far too restrictive, gathering together elements of traditional and folk, european classical, fusion jazz, straight progressive, and a taste of avant garde and blending them into a rich tapestry that is very emotionally dynamic (these are italians, after all) and is melancholic and sentimental to breathtakingly redemptive. gorgeous harmonies and melodies abound; the instrumental seperation and combination runs the full spectrum of possibilties with several types of keys and synths (two keyboard players), acoustic and electric guitars, bass and drum with each musician enhancing and hilighting not only the range and dynamic of the music, but integrating the highly individual performances to such a degree that the sum is much greater than the parts. the compositions are perfectly balanced and the changes seem perfectly natural but are highly complex; building to great crescendos that are soaringly beautiful. least my description succumb to blithering fandom at this point, let me just add that this is one of the most perfect example of modern popular music that I have ever heard! the rating is off the scale!

For many people, this 1973 release Io Sono Nato Libero represents Banco at their finest. The synths are more prominent than ever before and one of the Nocenzi brothers had acquired an Eminent 310 which is used throughout the album. Francesco Di Giacomo is one of those singers you like or you don't. Sure I had to get used to it when I first familiarized myself with the band (which was Come In Un'Ultima Cena), but by the time I acquired this album, I had no problem with him. I first acquired the BMG/Ricordi CD reissue. The music is great, but the packaging leaves a lot to be desired. Why only the lyrics to the first two cuts? Luckily I acquired the original LP, which comes in a gimmick-shaped cover and stapled-on booklet (same shape as the cover) with lyrics to all the songs and all the photos. The LP came with the custom Banco del Mutuo Soccorso label, and if you look carefully on the trail-off it says "13-11-1973", which I assume was released November 13, 1973. Of course this album had been reissued on vinyl many times before CD, unfortunately without that great gimmick shaped cover. This was also a transistional period as original guitarist Marcello Todaro was replaced midway in recording this album with Rodolfo Maltese. The album has a more experimental feel at times, and you know that right away listening to the opening cut, "Canto Nomade Per Un Prigioniero Politico". Here you get treated with lots of piano, synths, some twisted and experimental passages, and of course Di Giacomo's voice. "Non Mi Rompete" is by far the most conventional piece on the album, a pop-oriented piece that was apparently a hit in Italy. It sounds to me like a breather piece, but then they go back to what's more typical of the album with "La Citta Sottile". Really dramatic passages, with the Eminent and Di Giacomo's singing, and some really twisted synth passages. "Dopo... Niente e Piu Lo Stesso" is one of those prog pieces that go through so many different changes through the course. "Traccia II" is an electronic piece that doesn't sound much like the original "Traccia". Not knowing Italian, my impression is the album seems to have political themes.

By the way, if you enjoy Banco, let me suggest you Metamorfosi's Inferno (1973). That group too featured a vocalist that's not unlike Francesco Di Giacomo, and they too features tons of great keyboards (although they didn't have a guitarist).

This album is regarded as one of the finest in Italian prog, right up there with the likes of PFM's Per Un Amico or Le Orme's Felona e Sorona, and for good reason. It's totally essential.

Months ago, I had purchased Io Sono Nato Libero and really struggled with it. In fact I found the vocalist so difficult to warm up to I ended up dismissing the disc prematurely, thus the less than positive review presented below. Well, I am writing to retract that review and offer an alternative viewpoint. Somehow I stumbled upon Banco's Come In Ultima Cena and for whatever reason found it much more enjoyable. The compositions and arrangements were more accessable, though equally intricate and complex, and I soon found myself experiencing the vocals as being quite beautiful. Having nearly obsessively listened to Come In Ultima Cena I returned to Io Sono Nato Libero and experienced it quite differently than I did initially. It is a brilliant recording. Musicianship, composition, arrangementts and creativity are all quite exceptional, and yes, the vocals are brilliant. Being no fan of opera I think I was initially put off by Francesco Giacomo's operatic sensibilities. At this point, I must admit I find him to be one of the finest vocalists in progressive rock and this disc to be among the elite. I still prefer Come In Ultima Cena but am also quite enamored with Io Sono Nato Libero. So, I find myself eating crow to the brilliant work of this wonderful Italian outfit. This disc is-now-highly recommended...Simon

to compare Banco to Gentle Giant, this album could be as close a comparison as possible. Not that they imitate Gentle Giant in any way, not at all. First, GG is unsurpassed in their musical intellect (only Yezda Urfa could imitate GG so well that it sounds like "previously unreleased" tracks of GG, but after a few listens you could see the fake). Secondly, Banco is quite unique and their music almost always is very melodic, while GG quite often use the most dissonant tunes (and they do that so unbelievably great). So it can hardly be called influence, rather Gentle Giant daring ways inspired BMS to be as daring.

Canto Nomade is the most outstanding piece, its multiple parts flow brilliantly into one another, the drums solo seems out of place at first, but it's not, it's more like a bridge to the final (and excellent) part, just try to get used to it. Non Mi Rompete is beautiful and well played but quite trivial compositionally. La Citta'sottile, is very good, a very rhythmical beginning with great instrumentals followed by a rhythmical 'breakdown' (very Gentle-Giantesque) and a psychedelic intermission with a recitative and then comes back to the initial tune again, excellent. The next track, Dopo Niente E'piu'lo S, is excellent too, more complex compositionally than the previous one, the beginning reminds of GG but very briefly so. It turns into Traccia II, its orchestra-like sound appears a bit grandiloquent but they played it very well.

This album is in very close competition with their previous one, Darwin, a masterpiece beyond any praise.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUMS OF ALL THE TIME. I HAVE NEVER LISTENED ONE SONG MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN "LA CITTA SOTILE" AND I HAVE NEVER FOUND SOMETHING MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN "CANZIONE PER UN PRIGIONERO POLITICO". THIS IS THE RIGHT CD TO START IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW GREAT WAS THE ITALIAN PROGRESSIVE ROCK.

This album is one of my all time favourites, and with good reason too. The album sparkles with quality in every musical category. Not only is the playing incredible, with the band featuring two different keyboard players, but the singing is fantastic. Francesco Di Giacomo is perhaps the most talented singer in Progressive rock history - which is quite a statement considering the quality of vocals in progressive rock is actually quite high - higher than most forms of rock music. Di Giacomo's vocals are very operatic, but nowhere does he go over the top with them. The band genuinely creates its own sound - there really wasn't any other band at the time which they sounded like. The use of two keyboardists is very effective and distinctive. All lyrics in Italian, with plenty of instrumental passages. If you love progressive rock and wish to get into the famous Italian progressive rock bands, this album is the place to start.

"Io Sono Nato Libero" is probably my favorite Italian prog-rock effort. The abrasive vocals and somewhat awkward compositions on Banco's previous album "Darwin!" are completely absent here, as the group heads for a far more comfortable sound. The Italian classical-rock fusion was almost always performed with a greater sense of understated elegance than the standard UK heroes could muster, and "Io Sono Nato Libero" is the definitive example of this; its minutely layered arrangements and complex, multi-part compositions are filled with hummable melodies and tasteful soloing. The overall mood is epic yet relaxing.