Of late I've been digging into my 90s obscure prog collection, especially from Italy. One of those bands is Aria Palea, a group who released two albums before riding off into the sunset. Both of their albums I bought real time, and then filed away to not return again for many years. Aria Palea's second album Danze D'Ansie was released in 1998 and I finally covered it again in 2020, and the review is here on UMR. I concluded that review with: "Had you told me this was an archival album from 1976 originally destined for the Grog label, I would have believed it. And that's the story line here. If you're a fan of Italian progressive rock, this is one of those hidden titles you'll want to seek out. I also have the debut, which I'll eventually need to report back on as well." There's no time like the present. It's now been 28 years since I heard this debut. Let's give it a fresh spin.
In reviewing those notes for Danze D'Ansie I called out Area, classic Italian prog, and a decidedly retro angle. Aria Palea were a pioneer in the Italian prog renaissance by ironically setting back the clock. What separates Aria Palea even further is their willingness to explore the experimental side of progressive rock, a sound we might associate more with the term Krautrock. Flute is the primary lead instrument, though when the guitar amps up, it's in the raw state we typically find in early 70s Germany. Vocals do have a Demetrio Stratos bent, and this is heard on the very first notes. Zoicekardi'a is the type of album that ages well because it's unpredictable yet pleasing to the ears.
Of interest to me is the low ratings the band receives on ProgArchives. Most of those ratings were from the early days of the site, and it shows the mindset of the era, and of the original reviewer's perspective. Had Zoicekardi'a been released in the last few years, I believe Aria Palea would fare far better based on the reviews I see there today. I've said this many times in the past, but I'm most curious if we'll see a nostalgic enthusiasm for 90s prog, like we have for the 70s and 80s. We may not, as it was a niche audience from the beginning. But there was plenty of output back then, and rabid fans (like me) paid good money for these CDs, hungry for more new progressive rock. I'm personally grateful that I hear many of these albums better now than ever. The perfect reason to own something rather than rent.
Ownership: 1996 Lizard (CD). Lyric booklet with photos.
8//96 (first acquired); 9/28/24 (review)
As I've mentioned a few times before, the 1990s hold many prog rock gems that were little known even back then, and now have been completely forgotten. Aria Palea is one of those bands. They released two albums in the late 90s and basically disappeared save perhaps a comp contribution. Many of the 90s bands took a page from the 70s Italian prog cookbook and then proceeded to record using modern production techniques. Not Aria Palea. While it's not retro prog in the purest sense, it definitely sounds more like an earlier album. The primary reason for this perception is that the predominant lead instrument is the flute, one of those timeless sounds that transcends current fads. The other is the decidedly Demetrio Stratos styled vocals, using a similar affectation. While not near as demonstrative as Alberto Piras (Deus Ex Machina), the overall impression remains. There's plenty of guitar to savor as well. Had you told me this was an archival album from 1976 originally destined for the Grog label, I would have believed it. And that's the story line here. If you're a fan of Italian progressive rock, this is one of those hidden titles you'll want to seek out. I also have the debut, which I'll eventually need to report back on as well.
Ownership: 1998 Lizard (CD). Unique die-cut-in-the-center lyric booklet.
1998 (first acquired); 11/6/20 (review)
11/6/20 (new entry)
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