Napoli, Italy [Polydor 523 693-2]
Gnosis by Greg Northrup
Il Balleto di Bronzo's YS is an unequivocal classic, and stands as one of the very best albums out of Italy, and perhaps among the finest examples of dark, heavy progressive. However, newbies to the Italian scene might want to approach this one with caution, since it can be tougher to get into than some of the other popular Italian works. This was one of the first Italian albums I got, and I was frankly unprepared for it. The pyrotechnic keyboards, thundering rhythms, the angular, punishing guitars and the abrasive vocals made for a work that I found initially dense and unrewarding. For an album that many have hailed as the best progressive rock album of all time, I was a little disappointed. Of course, I've come around by now, and certainly hold this album in high regard as one of the jewels of Italian prog, but that personal anecdote should serve as a caveat for those expecting to be blown away immediately, especially if not particularly predisposed towards the more dissonant branches of progressive rock.
Still, YS is a complete monster. The music on here is thundering, cacophonous and simply unrelenting in its sheer, brute force. This also stands as one of the best keyboard-based albums of all time; Gianni Leone employs the full range of classic keys, from Hammond, Moog and Mellotron to piano and harpsichord, pitting them in savage, fiery duels that will absolutely tear your head off. These are contrasted against violent guitar riffs and surging basslines, making for a chaotic, mindbendingly complex ride. The music is punctuated by Leone's caterwauling operatic vocals, which are perhaps the toughest part of the album to get into, but are eventually endearing and nothing if not emotional. Take "Introduzione", an absolute beast of a cut that builds from volcanic climax to climax, as Hammonds and Moog duel it out for supremacy. Take the opening riff of "Epilogo," with its brilliant arpeggiated theme that simply bursts at the seams with intensity. The entire album is a series of mindblowing passages, with few spots of respite to be found. An indispensable Italian classic, without a doubt.
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Ground and Sky
This dark, haunting, and in places aggressive album has become an icon of Italian progressive rock. It is characterised by long jams, strange but compelling melodies, distorted guitar and the keyboard work of Gianni Leone. Needless to say, somebody expecting the melodic, pastoral style of some Italian bands will be in for a surprise.
This is not an album that will necessarily appeal on the first listening. Certainly after my first several listens, I was wondering what all the fuss was about. The extended solos bordered on tedious and there really wasn't a strong tune anywhere. What eventually wins the listener over is the slow dawning of the intrinsic beauty of the music as well as the atmosphere that's masterfully maintained whether the band is playing in a slow relaxed fashion, or with frenetic high energy.
The album consists of three "incontros" (literally this translates as "encounters", but I confess that I have no idea if this is a standard musical term in Italian) situated between an Introduction and an Epilogue, both of which are of much greater length. In some ways these divisions are almost arbitrary, as in a couple of cases there are more significant breaks in the music within a track than there are between them. Either way, the Introduction and Epilogue neatly perform the role of bookmarks, and the end at the end we even hear the opening music played backwards. The current CD release also has a bonus track which I think is the best thing on the album. It certainly has the best melody. It doesn't even disrupt the flow of the album, and sits nicely at the end, serving as a sort of nightcap after the epilogue.
I do still have a few reservations about this album, though. The rhythm section can be very repetitive, playing the same bass riff over and over. While I recognise that this is a legitimate musical device to build suspense, I still feel it gets overdone. There are also precious few highlights. Most of the other highly rated Italian albums have at least three or four moments that can lift your spirits to the sky and stick in your head for weeks to come, but on this album, all that sticks in your mind are the opening vocals and repetitive bass lines.
That said, I still think that this is a very good album. I think it's the equal of a number of English albums that are considered classics, though I wouldn't say it was my favourite Italian album. If you think Banco gone gothic is a good idea, you'll probably worship this album. For the rest of you, don't give up after the first couple of spins. The album does grow on you.
review by Conrad Leviston
YS is another one of those Italian symphonic prog albums that the people at Gnosis rate ridiculously high (it was even ranked No. 1 for awhile a few years ago). After spending upwards of $25 apiece on Italian imports, many of which never lived up to the greatness suggested by the hype (even though I do like most of them to some degree), I decided that enough was enough. I was not going to buy any more Italian symph albums unless I could find them used at abnormally low prices. So, YS was one of the "big names" that I didn't hear until a couple of years ago, when I got it for a bargain. If this sounds like I'm headed in the direction of describing how ironic it was that I waited so long to get YS only to be blown away by it when I finally heard it... well I'm not. But, I can say that the album has grown on me to the point where I consider it to be among the better Italian symphonic albums that I've heard.
One thing that YS has going for it is that it doesn't sound like the music of the other Italian symphonic bands — it's darker and the kitchen sink of old keyboards keeps it somewhat psychedelic. ELP is a useful reference point (as is the case for so many other Italian bands who use Hammond organs), but not much more than that. YS is broken up into five sections, but as a piece of music it's basically a single entity like Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick. As such, it's impressively unified; nobody could accuse the band of creating long tracks by stitching together a bunch of casually-related short ones.
I must echo the sentiments of Conrad that YS doesn't give the listener much to grab onto, initially. The music works itself into your subconscious with repetition, theme development and atmosphere rather than with particularly great hooks or instantly memorable melodies. After awhile, bits and pieces will start running through your head, whether it's the bass lines, the warped guitar riffs or that madcap section that goes from the end of the "Introduzione" and into the start of "Primo Incontra." Or the drums in the "Epilogo," which I recently realized would make a great trip-hop drum loop.
It was probably inevitable that I would be somewhat let down by YS, considering its great reputation. Truth be told, I still have no idea why some people think that it is among the best progressive albums ever made. I do think it's a very good album, though, and I would encourage fans of Italian prog or psychedelic-tinged prog to get it.
review by Matt P.
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Prog Archives
Review by Marcelo (Marcelo Matusevich)
2 stars Very complex, yes, but for me is an overrated album. Too much noisy for my taste. It's always hard to me when I try to make a review about "YS", because -positively- isn't my cup of tea. It's a heavy and crazy album with harsh vocals, much more than others in the '70s Italian hard prog scene. I just like some excellent keyboard's sounds and the musicians' quality, but nothing else.
Review by maani (Ian Alterman)
3 stars After a great deal of angst, I am adding one star to this album. And though I do so somewhat reluctantly, I do so in good conscience, for two specific reasons: its very early entry into the prog "catalogue," and the sheer amount of creativity being attempted (if not always successfully). Re "early entry," it is important to keep in mind that an album is actually written about a year before it appears. Thus, the 1972 appearance of this album (contemporaneous with Foxtrot, Three Friends, Fragile, Thick as a Brick and Trilogy, among others) means it was actually written prior to those albums - i.e., around the same time as Trespass, Acquiring the Taste, The Yes Album, Atom Heart Mother and ELP. Given this - and although the band "wears its influences on its sleeve" much of the time (i.e., it does not always successfully filter those influences into something new or compelling) - there is no question that the band is reaching for something, and very nearly achieves it. [N.B. Those influences primarily include ELP, Gentle Giant and a little bit of Yes. Given this, one could take the position that the very fact that it was those three groups that influenced IBDB is a positive sign - and I would agree.] / "Bronze Ballet" is the name of the group, but it might just as well serve as the title of this album, since the compositional quality is mildly theatrical, in the sense of a ballet or musical. The Introduzione, like the prelude of a theatrical musical, is lengthy, and states a number of "themes" which are then exposited more "fully" (at least, that seems to have been the intention...) in the three "incontros" (songs). The "Epilogo" (ending) then ties things together. I was particularly impressed with the musicianship, which is remarkable for that time. I also liked the vocals, which is not always the case with Italian (or other non-english European) prog. / As noted, the album as a whole has a lot of good ideas, but, also as noted, too few are expressed as well as they might be. The album would also have benefitted from more "incontros," since it seems somewhat "sparse" with only three - especially given that one of them does little but repeat part of the Introduzione. Still, as noted, they are clearly trying very hard, and the album is extremely listenable. Thus, although I cannot in good conscience give the album four stars, the band deserves an additional "E" for effort.
Review by Sean Trane (Hugues Chantraine)
2 stars I must say I don't understand what the big deal about this album. The singer has a strange and unmelodious voice and the music fails to captivate me. The fact that this is some sort of concept album from the lost city of YS does not make it anymore interesting to me especially if told by non-celtic people.
Review by loserboy (James Unger)
4 stars This is a mellotron lovers garden of eden! Lots of great keyboard work here and some incredible musicanship. Like so many great Italian recordings, "YS" demands the listeners full attention throughout. Although this recording has a true '70's reproduced feel to it, it remains very enjoyable with its underground sound. The guitar work is superb and what really stands out is the use of vocals and harmonies throughout. Lyrics are in Italian and are excellent.
Review by Steve Hegede (Steve Hegede)
4 stars Progressive rock's most controversial album. Many claim that YS is the "masterpiece of all masterpieces", while others claim that it is just an average album not worthy of all the hype. In my opinion, "YS" is a great album(not a masterpiece, but certainly one of the best from the Italian prog scene). My main problem with the album, though, is that some of the sections drag on for too long, especially the last 7 minutes. The intensity of the music sort of makes-up for the repetition, but you really have to be in the mood for it. For example, the bassist tends to repeat a bass pattern, while the keyboardist adds tons of keyboards(sometimes all counterpoint), and the guitarist wails all over the madness. The keyboardist is indeed awesome. His style mixes Keith Emerson's style with dark, and haunting, baroque influences. When the singer starts to sing, I'm reminded of some of the average heavy metal singers from the 80's. He isn't that bad, but it does take a while to get familiar with his style. You should definitely check out YS if you're into Italian progressive rock, but don't expect a masterpiece because you might be disappointed.
Review by lor68
4 stars Well Gianni Leone is an histrionic keyboardist, one of the most famous and skillful musicians within the Italian Progressive scene of the seventies. It's a mix between ELP and GOBLIN, with a dark touch of their own and some bombastic solos at his customized organ as well. The importance of this issue is enormous and for this reason probably it's righter score for its importance alone, is worth "5 stars" (even though actually this opinion has taken shape recently after listening to a re-mastered version; otherwise the original version has been rated like a "3 stars" work within "Amazon.com"). Nevertheless the repetitive dark atmosphere and the lack of a true "team work" let me be a bit perplex!! This is the output of the efforts by Gianni Leone alone, because the other musicians don't participate at his music project!
Recommended, even though you find some defects!!
Review by Proghead (Ben Miler)
4 stars I can see why this album appeals to many Italian prog fans out there. This has got to be some of the most insanely intense prog I have ever heard. It seems that the music just doesn't let up, or so it seems. The keyboard work just blows me away (lots of organ and piano, some Mellotron and Moog, a little spinet), and the guitarist spends a lot of his time catching up with the keyboardist. I hadn't heard "Sirio 2222", but it doesn't seem very regarded in prog circles the way "YS" does. Hearing me give such high praise to this album, you'd wonder why I give it less than five stars.
Here's the reason for that: the last part of the album starts sounding a bit tedious to my ears, as if the band ran out of steam after the last few minutes. But I still highly recommend this, but don't get this if you're expecting another soft, gentle Romantic prog album in the vein of PFM or CELESTE. If you like MUSEO ROSENBACH, BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO, SEMIRAMIS, OSANNA, and the likes, you're certain to enjoy this (except this is even more heavy and aggressive).
Review by progmonster (Domenico Solazzo)
5 stars Without a doubt, my all time Italian prog favorite. The singer might sound too heavy from time to time, but the overall atmosphere is dark and tense and the musicianship is absolutely devastating. At times, i regard "YS", the album, as a gigantic italian version of King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man". Both leaves me breathless at each listen.
Review by Alucard (Martin Horst)
3 stars "YS" is together with Locanda della Fattes "Forse.."one of the most contoversary records. Either you like them or you don't like them at all.I for myself can't find access to "YS" even after several tries. I like a lot the melodic side of prog and for my taste there anot enough melodies on this one.But I love the Cover and there is one Bonus Track on the Japonese CD edition which I reaally like (because it's very melodic and got a really nice keyboard arrangement and the singer sings really nice and mellow)
Review by memowakeman (Guillermo Hdez. Urdapilleta)
5 stars Wow!
This album is just beautiful, a true masterpiece of progressive rock history, also it was one of my first Italian albums ever, maybe because of this my love for that country and it`s music started to grow, since then i have listened to it so many times, and it`s always the same feeling, great!
An obscure syphonic album which could be a bit annoying for some people because of the vocals and of some dark piano passages, even there`s a part in the last song which has repetitive bass notes, you could get desperated when you listen to it, for me, is simple fantastic, nothing annoying for me, i love the vocals, Gianni Leone is one of my fav singers in the Italian scene, the music is always great, each song has it`s moments, the language is beautiful and the dark mood and music makes it yet more special.
Maybe the highest or best point of this album is the use of piano and synths during the album, it has 5 songs with names of Introduzione , Primo, Secondo and Terzo incontro, then to finish with Epilogo which is the greatest of them all because of its blend of piano ,voices and great drumming. But it also has an extra track called La Una Casa Comoda which is a nice end of the album.
I really love this album, i could say that im a fan of it, not of Il Balleto di Bronzo, i think it was their only masterpiece.
Review by erik neuteboom (erik neuteboom)
5 stars If you surf on the Internet or you read the mail-order catalogues, you often will read about this band that their album "YS" is excellent, highly recommended, not to be missed or a must! In my opinion it's one of the most original Italian progrock albums from the Seventies but I'm sure that the music will not be everybody's cup of tea because of the complexity and variety of styles: a bombastic intro featuring a choir, psychedelic organ, ominous vocals, raw guitarplay, celestial Mellotron, propulsive drums, lots of surprising musical ideas, many accellarations and shifting moods and the style varies from jazzrock or avant-garde to symphonic or classical. If you are up to a stunning musical progrock adventure, this one is yours!
www.backgroundmagazine.nl
Review by NJprogfan (Ray Rappisi jr)
5 stars A mind blowing album. If you're not familiar with this album, let me go out on a limb and compare them to the modern day schizophrenic band The Mars Volta. The opening song, "Introduzione" and it's little brother, "Primo incontro" are what The Mars Volta would sound like if they came from the 70's. Frantic, eerie, nightmarish, non-stop, over-the-top with a female voice that kicks off the album as if she was calling out to sailors like a dangerous mermaid. You can't get any faster paced then the first track. How the drummer can keep up with the pace for the length of the song, close to 18 minutes, is amazing. Fantastic keyboard work with unrelenting guitar and that drumming make the first two tracks monumental. Only the singing by Gianni Leone slows down the pace, but just a tad. One of the greatest Italian prog songs of all time. Fantastic singing on track three/four (they blend together), and some freakout guitar, ELP-like keyboard and great drumming changes the tempo a tiny bit, but its a super song with a definate early King Crimson sound. Track five, "Epilogo" starts out frantically, sorta like the first track but turns into a sinister hellborne song, something the devil himself would enjoy with some of the creepiest percussion ever. It's devil music I tell ya! A bonus track rounds out the album, kinda poppy sounding but nevertheless a decent track. So, if you're looking for what could possibly be the only album that compares to the sound of The Mars Volta, (at least track 1/2), try this album out. It's arguably the greatest Italian prog album, which could easily stand tall next to the best of PFM, Banco, Le Orme, Area and all the wonderful one-shot Italian classics. a bonefide classic of the highest order, and one album you'll never tire of.
Review by Andrea Cortese (Andrea Cortese)
5 stars This fine italian prog-rock album is a conceptual-based opus with some awesome theatrical development.
The music (impressive!) is keyboards-oriented, through the master hands of Gianni Leone (organ, piano, mellotron, moog, spinet, celesta) and the result is an intricate and sinister atmosphere “drenched with blood” because of that dark and exciting (shifting moods) frenetic playing. Electric guitar (by Lino Aiello) has not a dominant part here, but many times it’s the icing on the cake, being so aggressive and apocalyptical! Many soft and sinister female choirs that seem to be the crying of the Angels’ Chorus!
The lyrics are really obscure (already english translated on the forum!), telling the story of a man who starts a journey, all alone, and, during it, he has 3 meeting: a dead man ivy covered and with ripped ears; a dead old man with thorns infixed in his eyes; finally he meets The Death in person, but he doesn’t be able to tell its true name because of his mouth is tired and motionless…and because light isn’t anymore!
Three chilling scenes, three meeting…Three is a mystical number…it seems to me that the poem is about someone who, listening to the Wrong Voice, follows something which is the negation/contrary of the positive triad of the good (Trinity). Perhaps the album is about suicide but…who could tell it? Its lyrics are dark and with a not directly understandable message!
On the 1994 remastered edition there’s also a GREAT bonus track titled “La Tua Casa Comoda” (Your Own Comfortable Home).
This is a great symphonic prog-rock-orientated album, great keyboards, lots of imagination…
Review by philippe (Philippe Blache)
3 stars Classic symphonic prog from Italy! A musical fusion between structured melodic "romantic" songs and long keyboards "baroque" improvisations. The result is an energic sound with lot of grooves. A distinctive note from PFM, Banco and other basic symphonic bands are the weird, sometimes "avant garde" harmonies used in many tunes. "Introduzione" starts as a mellow, peaceful "classical" ballad then comes a furious driving rock section. "Primo incontro" has a discreet hard rock feel with strange voices, heavy guitar solos and piano arrangements, a rather dark, mysterious tune. The boring elements come from this unbearable voice in Italian. I'm on my rest with these vocal melodies. The other inconvenient is the grotesque "symphonic" sound; I mean the imitation of classical rapid scales keyboards parts which sounds a bit laughable today. As for the most part of the Italian "symphonic" rock scene, this album didn't pass the test of time.
Review by micky
5 stars Il Balletto Di Bronzo- YS... oh jesus where to start on reviewing this album. Let me start with some personal thoughts on the album before I touch on the album itself. I've used this analogy in the forums so this is a good place for it. Surely you prog fans have that particular album that upon the first listen was the physical equivalent of taking a 2x4 to the jaw. This album was that to me. So far I have reviewed mainly albums that were favorites since I was a young pup. This one I have had less than a year, being a very late comer to the world of prog outside of the english speaking sphere of prog. I have recommended this album to many people who like me were unaware of the serious serious quality of Italian progressive rock, and have left many people muttering... oh my god. If by chance you haven't heard this album do yourself a favor and get this album. I'll stake what is left of my good name, now that I have mentioned that I have seen the New Kids on the Block in concert hahahah, that you will appreciate the shear terror and darkness that this album's music represents when the language differences cannot.
Now to the album. This album is a keyboardists dream. Fabulous organ, mellotron, and accoustic piano abound. For those who like some heavy guitar work.. have a seat at the table.. heavier than some of those poseurs parading around in leather with styled hair were. As far as the lyrical nature of the album. Andrea has posted a translation of the lyrics in the forums. Interesting tale about meeting 3 faces of death on a journey or something like that hahahha. Can't say much for the lyrics but Gianni Leone in addition to his stellar keyboard work has a great voice.
YS kicks off with the masterpiece of Introduzione. The highlight .. the incredible (for lack of a better word) use of heightening tension during the frenzied guitar and organ duel with the ...orgasmic release into an out of this world mellotron section, I feel like firing up a Winston everytime I hear it. Amoung my top 5 prog muscial 'moment's of alltime. It's that intense everyone.
Next up are the 3 encounters with death... the primo, secondo, and terzo incontros. The Primo is a reprise of the ending of introduzioine and is available as a sample here. The Secondo incontro has some really sweet mellotron underneath the main vocal sections and seques right into the bass intro to the terzo incontro which is my favorite of the three. A great walking bass line with brutal machine gun burst of the organ following by a guitar solo that to rolls right out of the left channel. Today's guitar soloist's could learn a thing or two from how to make a guitar solo.....sound. A dirty and nasty sounding guitar tone pervades this album. I've often thought that this album recorded today would not have the same sound or effect. It's a nasty brutish subject and the sound matches it.. no overproducing on this. Finally we end with Epilogo. More of the same great singing by Leone, great organ work, and unlike some I love the exteneded outro to the song... and the original album. Very atmospheric.
The CD release does a a bonus track, La Tua casa comoda, which was recorded after the album was released. It has nothing in commen with the album musically or lyrically but in a way... it was nice to have a reprise from taking 2x4's to jaw.
In summation. If you do not like albums that are heavily keyboard orientated, stay away from this one. If you do, and like being musically bludgeoned for 40 minutes, you will love this album almost as much as I do. As far as rating it... for me.. the best prog album I've heard in a very long time. I haven't been 'grabbed' by a prog album like this since I was a kid sitting in front of my parents 8-track player, and led directly to me being an Italian prog fanatic. 5 stars both personally and a complete masterpiece of progressive rock. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but an album of this caliber is deserving of at least a chance and a listen.
Micky
Review by emokid3000
4 stars one of my favorite italian prog albums ! great musicianship, very good ideas and a vintage production that doesn't ruin the whole thing ! yes, Il Balletto di Bronzo's YS should be in every prog lovers collection !
Review by info
5 stars This is really absolutely masterpiece. One of the best albums which I know. Pure progrock for most ambitious collectors nad fans. Close to the best moments of Emerson Lake & Palmer, with influences of italian melody and harmony traditions. Important note - not easy to sympathy for one hearing. Patience and concentration on their music is essential.
Review by pachecozar
5 stars To make a good listening of the album, think about the Italian Operas, Think about the european good music, not that mainstream music that even great bands like ELP or YES or even PINK FLOYD fell into it. YS is the most powerfull music you can heard, not just from1972 (best year ever in music productions) but from all times, it hasn't been a better album yet in his totallity, Wish you were here was very close.
Review by arqwave (jorge javier)
5 stars One of the few masterpieces lost in time. This band is a hit and a very professional group. From the oppening act, the "vintage" sounds evoke better times and beatiful ambient stylings. The Re-issue of the record is a must. I never thouhgt i could ever hear this perfectly craft "old sound" again. Along with fellows PFM and BANCO... this band reminds us that the prog scene in Italy is highly awarded. A perfect record in any single music collection. Check out "Epilogo", amazing.
Review by dodaro
5 stars Surely a masterpiece of '70ies italian prog, "YS" is a prog album born adult, after a first work by the Balletto di Bronzo, more beat than rock or gothic-dark prog. The becoming of mister Leone on keyboards and other hundred devices, the magical, even simple, guitar of mister Ajello, the power of basses by mister Manzari and the carpet of plots by the drum of mister Stringa creates an album really good under all the points of view. The work is a concept album, the titles of the song in italian makes you understand the sequence of the story told. I reccomend this album to all the real prog evaluators. In Italy you can find the CD at the low price of 5€. Is the time for you all to buy it.
Review by vartskyj
4 stars What can i say , i love this album for a few reason's: 1. This is a very complete piece devided in to section's with an introduction and a epilog. all pieces were put together with absolutly no signs of struggle between them,you just dont find that a lot. 2. A lot of reviewers like to mention gianni leone ,the keyboardist. i would like to mention the drummer who simply cant play in a normal way (no 4/4 here), i think he is one of the greatest and i even dare to compare him to the beloved bill bruford from king crimson (and Yes). 3. The music moves between twisted barock and renessance with touches of modern classical music with a little jazz and all the way to guitar solo's a la hendrix. could you ask for more.
Finally i would like to say why i took one star off. The music here is very good yet quite intense which means that it is quite heavy and not easy to swallow. Although i am not one to break away because of such stuff it can ,from time to time, get quite tiering and for that reason ,although i do love this album,i never listen to it twice in a row. So it's four stars from me with a warning of not for everyone,not for the faint hearted.
Review by ziofulvio
4 stars when I first heard YS, a friend of mine said it was absolutely outrageous especially handling a joint....It's true, but I don't wanna talk about it: I prefer focusing on the perfect mixing effect among voices, organ, synth and drums. I'd like to depict the mysterious echoes of this sound, surrounding my own. I'm interesting, in the end, in narrating this musical path in which you can lost and find yourself at the same time. Few bands are capable to move me like "il Balletto", few bands can fill a room with hypnotizing music, poetical lyrics, charming rhythm like them. The concept album is quite perfect in alternating powerful and tender sections, with that 15 minutes prologue that makes you understand how the things will work, and excellent epilogue starting with a fantastic simultaneous duet of piano scale and drum rolling. I don’t rate it 5 because of the presence of the last track “La tua casa comoda”, which is not bad in itself, but symbolises their need to have a “single” in their record, releasable on radios and elsewhere, without whom an Italian band had (and has) few chances to do it.
Review by DieskauSchubert (Gabriel)
5 stars First of all I must make the statement that making a review of anything, especially of music, is a question of being the most objectively as posible. It`s not a question of tastes. If a review would be only a matter of taste, how could you posibily say to a Britney fan that VDDG`s "Refugees" is better than Britney`s "Toxic"? I think that statement was necesary before saying a word about Balleto`s album YS, wich is of course, not for everybody. But dont let that stop us. YS is really a great album. Nice dark lyrics although Leone`s voice may not be the best. Complex compostions though with total sense, its not making complex music just for fun, its really an artistic need. There is also a lack in production but it doesn`t spoil the album. Its also a quite somber album but even more are the English versions of the album. Maybe I even like the english versions more, but again, thats just me. YS is a great album(English or Italian version), that I guarantee, but I can`t be sure that you like it...
Review by sirchilpa
5 stars This is : Simply the best Italian album ever.... I am really shocked because the beauty and darkness at the same time of this album, The introduction, all the Incontros and the Epilogue, the whole album is a masterpiece, neither of the songs is less than the other... i bought this album two weeks ago, and since that glorious day im listening to it every day ,sometimes i listen to it twice or three times in a row, because i like to enjoy it, to feel it, and learn all about it, it has a great depth, and maybe the quality sound of that era is not the best, but it passed to second term... I would like to suggest this album to all the prog fans around the globe, listen to it carefully and then , you will get impressed !!
Review by gabrielsatyr
5 stars The BALLETTO DI BRONZO is essential: a masterpiece of progressive music! The texts is very beautiful, it tells the story of YS. the told story transforms the album in a optimal musical experience... It's perhaps the best international album of progressive music! Gianni Leone had 16 years when the album is exited... He's fantastic musician and the BALLETTO DI BRONZO is very big group... Thank you and bye!
Review by braindamage
5 stars The second work released in 1972 "YS". The sound is violence and symphonic rock to have made good use of a kooky rhythm and the noise. They splendidly drew the fantastic world by the estheticism. The main of this album is keyboard play of Gianni Leone. It is heavy and keyboard play is romantic like EL&P+KING CRIMSON. The guitar and the high tone vocal are one of the highest peaks of Italian rock. It is a balanced entertainment though is avan- gard. Tone quality is also good. It is a masterpiece handed down long with "Palepoli" of OSANNA and MUSEO ROSENBACH as dark, symphonic rock.
This is an unexpected total album. It is exactly frenzy. It is musical violence. The play of the keyboard is splendid though influences by "Tarkus" of EL&P of having added an original idea of Gianni Leone. This work is one of the progressive rock works that represent Italian rock. This heavy, dynamic style has been succeeded to ANGLAGARD. It is a miraculous masterpiece.
Review by andrea (andrea parentin)
4 stars Recently I’ve attended a live performance of Il Balletto di Bronzo … During the concert Gianni Leone (the only original member of the band in the present line up) told that nowadays he find progressive rock boring and that probably he wouldn’t release another album like “YS” … Nevertheless they played the whole album… I didn’t find the performance completely convincing (I missed the guitar since now Il Balletto di Bronzo is a trio with only bass, drums and keyboard), but “YS” is the best known work of the band and I realized that almost all the public was there only to listen to it… Why?
Actually, on the first listening you could find “YS” a little bit boring… Foggy lyrics that draw dreadful images, gloomy vocals, anguish and fear dropping out every now and again… “A man is there with his face down / The ivy already covers his body / Black is the blood / On the wounds of his torn ears”… Definitely a hunting and dark mood hanging over the whole album… If you’re looking for something relaxing probably it’s better avoid it… But if you’re more patient I’m sure that you’ll find that the music is rather good… Gianni Leone is a very skilled musician with a solid classical background… Lyrics are not the strength of this album, but here vocals are more like an instrument interacting with the band to stir emotions… There are many changes of rhythm, wonderful keyboards and guitar solos, powerful bass lines and drumming… You can find here many influences blended together in a very interesting and personal way… From classical to jazz, from avant-garde to hard rock… After all no wonder if many people love this work! And no wonder if Gianni Leone do not love this album anymore: he seems like a prisoner of “YS” since after this album his inspiration almost run over… “And the darkness around him / Then was inside him…”…
Well, I have to say that “YS” is not my favourite “Italianprog” album but in my opinion it is an excellent addition to any prog collection…
Review by Publius (Thomas Cassidy)
5 stars A pattern emerges in my mind. It seems the greatest European prog bands are always the most mysterious. Take a look at the German progressive scene of the 70s? The greatest band around at that time was Can, without a doubt. Can were conceived under strange circumstances; with a vocalist who could speak in a prehistoric language, and the musicians themselves being largely of the classical variety, playing music they were unfamiliar with. And over in Italy, we had the great Il Balletto Di Bronzo. All you have to do is listen to a section of this great album to realise that this is the work of the devil. And I mean that in an entirely good way. YS is the most terrifying, dark, haunting album you will ever hear. The distressing Italian lead vocals, the creepy and haunting backing vocals and the just plain terrifying spinet playing by Gianni Leone throughout are what make the music rivetingly, monumentally fascinating. And yet, Il Balletto Di Bronzo barely made a name for themselves; it's almost as if they sold their souls to the devil just so they could create this one great masterpiece. If I were to attempt to describe it, I would compare it to Emerson, Lake & Palmer's darker moments (think Toccata) and the darkest prog matter of King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator. Add in some insanely distorted, weird guitar sounds and a trapped soul of a singer, perhaps buried from the waist down in molten lava, playing a spinet (form of harpsichord) and you are listening to Il Balletto Di Bronzo. Just don't listen late at night.
Actually, do just that.
Review by MANDRAKEROOT (Andrea Salvador)
5 stars INCONTRO
With the entry in formation of Gianni Leone the band bears "YS". and it does center as is an epochal album.
The sound is ruling from the keyboards of Leone (and from his big voice) and thanks to rhythmic a lot of Hard Rock does appear everything like a cheerful version of the Dark Prog... How if the Atomic Rooster decided to do some cover of the PFM! I should say that all five original songs are attractive but "Introduzione/ Primo Incontro" e "Secondo Incontro" have a little of magic in more. But they are alone details (negligible). Instead the bonus track of the CD ("La Tua Casa") is a POP Rock without demands, however attractive.
"YS" to distance of 34 years plays still fresh and present. And it cannot be lacking in your discography.
For always yours, Mandrakeroot.
Review by volcano
4 stars YS is a highly energetic album with complex vitruosity and good song structure! ive always found that italian prog bands have their own unique style and Il Balletto di Bronzo is definetly one of them! Slightly off-key vocals wich is not necessarily a bad thing on the contary in this situation it sounds great! very keyboard oriented and twisted in a Evil, Dark kind of way. Definetly worth a listen! Italian prog at its finest hour...
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