I GIGANTI - TERRA IN BOCCA - 1971

In 1971, Italian progressive rock was still in its early stages, and bands were working on creating something uniquely Italian and avant-garde. But, I GIGANTI, out of thin air really, put out what has got to be the first masterpiece from the 70s Italian prog rock scene. The band originally began its career in the 1960s as a vocal-based band. As rock started to get experimental, and bands began to create concept albums with complex instrumental music, I GIGANTI created an album that highlighted their strong vocals and their taste for catchy melodies. "Terra In Bocca" starts off with an addictive "Sicilian"-like melody on acoustic guitar and vocals, but as soon as you get comfortable with the direction of the album your ears are treated to a few unexpected surprises, and within a couple of minutes you know that you're in for a musical treat. The album is vocal-heavy (tells the story of a Mafia-related murder) and quite similar to BLOCCO MENTALE's "PiOA", and LATTE E MIELE "Passio Secundum Mattheum". Some of the vocal passages remind me of the guys from BLOCCO MENTALE, yet I GIGANTI are much stronger. From what I've heard, the lyrics are also considered quite good by most of the Italian music critics. The music, on the other hand, reminds me a bit of LATTE E MIELE's "Passio Secundum Mattheum". What might explain that is that LATTE E MIELE's unique-sounding guitarist plays on this album, and alot of the atmospheres and jams here seem to have inspired LATTE E MIELE a year later. What might bother some listeners is the lack of complex instrumental sections. There are plenty of instrumental sections led by mellotron, but the vocals make-up about 90% of the LP. Personally, I love the vocals. The richness, variety, and detail in the vocal sections makes up for the lack of long instrumental section. But, if you're mostly into the instrumental side of prog, then this album might not appeal to you. Overall, if you love Italian vocals in progressive rock this little gem will rank high in your collection.


This band was formed in Milan during '60s, and I think they opened some BEATLES gig in Italy. "Terra In Bocca", from 1971, was their only prog album, pretty original and very different from the typical Italian Symphonic Rock.

The eleven songs can be heard like only one, emphatizing the lyrics and vocal section over the instrumental parts, but -nevetheless- melodies are excellent. All members sing, and their magnificent voices are able to cover a big range, telling to the listener a story about the "mafia", reaching brilliant moments many times, specially thanks to the emotion put in the interpretation. In fact, this is the most emotive album I heard coming from Italy. Great interplay among voices, guitars and keyboards, adding the important presence of Mellotron to increase the dramatism. The structure is quite similar to LATTE E MIELE's albums, with a main refrain reitered or developed in different tempos, but to my taste I GIGANTI is a little bit better.

All tracks are in the same emotive vein, but "Tanto Va La Gatta Al Lardo", about a funeral, is one of the most incredible songs I ever heard. If you can understand the language, this track will blow your mind!

My only complain is the bonus track at the end, "Sogno Di Un Vegetale", out of context. It breaks the fascinating tension atmosphere created in the album, but despite this detail, "Terra In Bocca" is a classic Italian gem, another masterpiece waiting to be discovered.
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