The Italian composer, keyboardist, and singer Gianni Leone rose to fame in the 1970s with his band Il Balletto Di Bronzo through the release of the legendary album Ys (1972). It was the only album these young musicians released at the time and earned them cult status and the album became a Collector's Item. What many do not know is that Leone subsequently went solo before reforming the band years later, with him as the sole original musician from that era. One of his two solo albums has now been re-released by Black Widow Records. Not his solo debut Vero from 1977, but the subsequent Monitor from 1980. For his solo career, Gianni used the stage name LeoNero and took a very different musical direction from what people were used to from him in Il Balletto Di Bronzo. Perhaps this is not so strange, as the Progressive Rock of the seventies had been extinguished by Punk and New Wave into a small burning fire that occasionally still had some death throes but was doomed until the bands of the Neo Progressive Rock generation later rekindled the flame. Gianni also likely wanted something different from what he had done before. A musical genre that would hopefully bring him more success. A musical style that was much more commercial than the old-fashioned genre mentioned earlier with which he had grown up. Perhaps we cannot label LeoNero as a real solo project because he was assisted by a number of musicians who also appear on the album cover. At that time, they were Steve Hufsteter on lead guitar, Steve Sykes on rhythm guitar, Scott Lipsker on bass, Charlie Quintana on drums and Tony Burke also on drums. As you can see, all names sound English. That is not so strange if you know the background of where the album was recorded. Namely during recording sessions in Hollywood and Los Angeles. Not that they exerted much influence on the overall sound of the album. For it was primarily Gianni who dominates the album with his dramatic voice and keyboard contribution. You can say that Gianni presents an approach on Monitor that is both visionary and personal and characterized by experimental synthesizer sounds and a fresh, Californian-inspired production. The album is an innovative and visionary work that was ahead of its time. Therefore it is a key piece of Italian New Wave. With its unique blend of electronica, synth pop, and dreamlike atmospheres, this album is a sonic journey that transports the listener into a world of sounds and images. The cutting-edge production for the time, combined with Gianni Leone's creativity and experimentation, makes this album a true cult classic. This reissue features not only the original album but also extra songs which Gianni recorded on his own as LeoNero Solo. Meaning he did all of the vocals, keyboard parts and used a rhythm box. For the lovers of progressive rock those recordings sound more interesting than the songs recorded with the U.S. musicians. Sometimes it is as if you are listening to an early version of a Howard Jones song. Good examples are Il Nuovo Mondo and No, No, No, No. One of the highlights is without any doubt Tell Me Why (only song sung in English), which also got a second version as one of the 4 bonus tracks. It sounds a bit like the big Howard Jones hit What Is Love. But in general you can say the solo stuff sounds like eighties poppy tunes with progressive rock influences, just like Howard Jones used to do in those days. The only standout track is the piano ballad Ne Ieri Ne Domani, on which Gianni plays the piano particularly brilliantly and accompanies himself on a synthesizer bass. In general you can say that Monitor is a staple of Italian New Wave and Progressive Rock. Recorded in California and features a mix of electronic pop and keyboard-driven soundscapes. Some fans of complex symphonic rock might want to skip this album, as you won't find music in the style of the album Ys here. However, for those who also enjoy Howard Jones-esque songs, it is certainly musically enjoyable. The solo pieces, in particular, are definitely worth a listen. But in general, the entire composition of this album is definitely worth giving a listen. Therefore, I invite everyone to do so. Perhaps you will enjoy it just as much as I did! *** Henri Strik (edited by Dave Smith) Where to buy? |
