Errata Corrige

An excellent, yet very obscure, mid-70's Italian progressive, taking a step on from the likes of: PFM, LDF, or Il Volo, with a very symphonic classically. Errata Corrige uses multi-guitars, piano, cello, synthesizers, bass, flute and drums. They develop a very complex (dramatic and dreamy) style, blending spacious symphonics with a poetic Italian lyrics. Their superb, gentle vocal harmonies (in Italian) are complimentary to the music. "Siegfried, Il Drago e Altre Storie (1976)" is the excellent debut album, and after a long gap, this was foolowed by "Mappamundo (1991)" .

"Siegfried, Il Drago e Altre Storie (1976)" is the excellent debut album, and after a long gap, this was foolowed by "Mappamundo (1991)" .

A privately pressed and very rare album, Siegfried, il drago e altre storie was the first LP released by this Turin band, that was active from 1974 and that had previously recorded two tapes and some tracks posthumously released on CD in early 90's.

The band was initially a trio with no name, then a quartet that only took its name Errata Corrige when newcomer Mike Abate replaced previous guitarist Cardellino. Two demo-tapes, entitled Da mago a musicista and Saturday il cavaliere were released by the early line-ups.

The LP is released in 1976, with fantasy-inspired lyrics and dreamy soft-prog atmospheres not unlike Celeste in their first album or Pierrot Lunaire. More complex arrangements and rhythm changes make this an attractive and original sounding record. Band members play a long list of instruments with good musicianship and the result is absolutely positive.

The Mappamondo CD includes their first recordings along with more commercially sounding 1977 tracks.

The quality is uneven, five tracks from 1974 sound interesting, though the impression for some of these is of unfinished compositions. The remaining four tracks from 1977, in which Abate and Cimino are supported by Arturo Vitale (sax, from Arti & Mestieri), Paolo Franchini (bass) and Giorgio Diaferia (drums, from Esagono) show a sound much closer to jazz rock with some funky elements, like in American dream.