Showmen were a Naples band important in RPI history as well as rock and roll. The first incarnation dates to 1966 and included in its line-up Elio d'Anna, who would go on to form the RPI powerhouse Osanna. The first line-up blended Italian pop with soul/R and B and had several successful singles before breaking up around 1970. Shortly after this, several members joined some new musicians to form Showmen 2 which would attempt to blend some of the original Showmen sound with the exciting new rock sounds that were beginning to permeate Italy. This line-up is the one of interest to RPI fans as it produced the fine 1972 album Showmen 2.
The album is housed in a stunning heavy gatefold cover and contains a peculiar mix of rock, rhythm & blues, prog, not far from the sound of Chicago or the English band If…
Showmen were a Naples band important in RPI history as well as rock and roll. The first incarnation dates to 1966 and included in its line-up Elio d'Anna, who would go on to form the RPI powerhouse Osanna. The first line-up blended Italian pop with soul/R and B and had several successful singles before breaking up around 1970. Shortly after this, several members joined some new musicians to form Showmen 2 which would attempt to blend some of the original Showmen sound with the exciting new rock sounds that were beginning to permeate Italy. This line-up is the one of interest to RPI fans as it produced the fine 1972 album Showmen 2.
The album is housed in a stunning heavy gatefold cover and contains a peculiar mix of rock, rhythm & blues, prog, not far from the sound of Chicago or the English band If…
Eye 2 Eye has been founded in the 2003 on the ashes of ADN by Philippe Benabes and Didier Pegues.
With "The Light Bearer" (Musea, 2017), Eye 2 Eye finally comes out of a silence that lasted five years. However, this wait will not have been in vain, since after a few personnel changes, Eye 2 Eye proves to us that it has lost nothing of its verve. The neo Progressive influences of the past are less evident, to leave room for others, more symphonic. The vocals, now held by Michel Cerroni, are deep and lyrical, while the arrangements are even further polished. A string quartet brings a bit of novelty as well. "The Light Bearer" is a very nice surprise!
Founded in 2003 on the ashes of ADN by Philippe Benabes and Didier Pegues, Eye 2 Eye finally released their third album on the Musea label. "The Wish" marks a watershed for the group that sign here its first concept-album, inspired by Oscar Wilde's "Picture Of Dorian Gray". Neo Progressive and floydian influences from the early days, make way for a more personal identity, helped by the voice of Djam Zaidi (Transperception), the flamboyant guitars of Amirouche Ali Benali, the swirling keyboards of Philippe Benabes and Elise Bruckert's magical violin, backed by the solid rhythm of Aymeric Delteil (bass) and Didier Pegues (drums & keyboards)…