Formed in Oct. 1967 in Milan, Italy - Recorded under the name "Blizzard" in 1977 - Disbanded finally in 1979. Alusa fallax are amongst the ranks of Italian prog bands who only released one album in their career, perhaps surprising when you realise the band existed for around ten years.
The band was formed in Milan in 1969 by keyboard player Massimo Parretti who went in search of musicians to play on a piece of music he'd been asked to write. His search led him to GLI ADELFI, a band that featured an old school friend on guitar and vocals, Guido Gabet. Impressed, Parretti enlisted their help but shortcomings with the keyboard player led him to take his place for the recording. The band changing its name to ALUSA FALLAX was completed by three brothers with the surname Cirla, Augusto (drums, vocals and recorder), Guido (bass and vocals) and Mario (sax, flute, French horn and vocals). The result was a single titled "Dedicato A Chi Amo" followed the same year by another called "Tutto Passa".
They then started playing live shows but it wasn't until 1974 that the album "Intorno Alla Mia Cattiva Educazione" was released. Musically the album is largely in a symphonic style with classical and occasional jazz influences, with intelligent utilization of acoustic and electric instrumentation. Although
comprising of thirteen tracks they are divided into two long suites with strong musicianship throughout. The band kept playing and released their one and only album in 1974 on Fonit; a great little-known gem, in the best Italian prog tradition, led by keyboards with classical influences, it reminds the best things Banco del Mutuo Soccorso ever made. The album received very little promotion and was only pressed in a quantity of 5000. They continued to make their living from the live circuit but not through playing progressive rock. Disco became big news towards the end of the seventies and they adopted this style for their live shows and even released a single under the name BLIZZARD before finally splitting up in 1979.
Italian Prog (HERE)
INTORNO ALLA MIA CATTIVA EDUCAZIONE 1974
A classic! One of the most brilliant works in Italian progressive style. If I could, I would give it six stars, because "In Torno..." is one of the most exquisite stuffs I heard. Cirla's emotive rough voice reminds me
Leonardo Sasso's voice (LOCANDA DELLE FATE singer, another Italian monster), and the music is complex, melodic and beautiful. Lots of Mellotron, flutes and acoustic guitar along 13 non-separated tracks, conforming a fascinating concept album. Classic landscapes, jazzy touches and impressive originality. There are incredibly wonderful eleven minutes here, among tracks 2 and 4, that can resume the progressive rock quintessence, but the rest of "In Torno..." never loses interest. A true masterpiece!
Alusa Fallax – Intorno Alla Mia Cattiva Educazione
Label: Mellow Records – MMP 229
Series: Mellow Records Reissues Series
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo 1994
Country: Italy
Released: 1974
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
TRACKS
01. Soliloquio 2:58
02. Non Fatemi Caso 4:28
03. Intorno Alla Mia Cattiva Educazione 4:13
04. Fuori Di Me, Dentro Di Me 3:03
05. Riflessioni Al Tramonto 3:04
06. Il Peso Delle Tradizioni 1:40
07. Carta Carbone 3:36
08. Perche' Ho Venduto Il Mio Sangue 1:43
09. Per Iniziare Una Vita 4:20
10. E' Oggi 3:05
11. E' Cosi' Poco Quel Che Conosco 2:32
12. Cio' Che Nasce Con Me 4:12
13. Splendida Sensazione 5:45
LINE - UP
Guido Gabet / electric & acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Massimo Parretti / piano, organ, harpsichord, ARP synth
Mario Cirla / tenor & contralto saxophones, flute, French horn, backing vocals
Guido Cirla / bass, backing vocals
Augusto "Duty" Cirla / drums, bells, recorder, lead vocals
