Italian Psychedelic Rock: The Best of the Genre
Contents
A list of Italian Psychedelic Rock bands and solo artists, as well as the best albums of the genre.
Italian Psychedelic Rock Defined
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. The genre developed during the late 1960s and reached the height of its popularity during the 1970s.
What is Italian Psychedelic Rock?
Italian psychedelic rock is a type of music that began in the late 1960s. It is a combination of traditional Italian music and instrumentation with elements of psychedelic rock. The genre reached the height of its popularity in the 1970s, but has since made a comeback in recent years.
Italian psychedelic rock is characterized by its use of electric guitars, bass guitars, keyboards, and drums. The music often has a proggy or jammy feel to it, and is frequently improvisational in nature. It is also often heavily influenced by American and British psychedelic rock bands such as Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Airplane.
Some of the most well-known Italian psychedelic rock bands include Goblin, G&Bidayoffers Negroni (Grande Fratello), Osanna (L’uomo), Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM), Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, and New Trolls.
The Origins of Italian Psychedelic Rock
Italian Psychedelic Rock, sometimes also called Italian Hippie Rock is a subgenre of Psychedelic music that emerged from the Italian music scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The first Italian Psychedelic bands were influenced by Anglo-American Psychedelic groups such as The Beatles and The Doors, as well as by Italian Progressive Rock groups such as Goblin and Banco del Mutuo Soccorso.
By the early 1970s, Italian Psychedelic bands had developed their own sound, characterized by lengthy instrumental passages, complex arrangements, and use of exotic instruments such as sitars and Mellotrons.
Notable Italian Psychedelic bands include Il Rovescio della Medaglia, La Ira dei Gentili, Osage Tribal Rite, and Delirium.
The Best Italian Psychedelic Rock Songs
Psychedelic rock, also known as acid rock, is a style of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s. The genre is characterized by distorted guitars, echoed vocals, and a trippy vibe. Italian psychedelic rock is some of the best in the world, and in this article, we’ll be counting down the top five songs in the genre.
“L’Infermiera” by I Camaleonti
I Camaleonti were one of the most popular and successful bands of the Italian pop scene in the 1960s and 1970s. They released a string of hits, including “L’Infermiera,” which is considered one of the best Italian psychedelic rock songs. The song features a catchy melody, driving guitar riffs, and psychedelic sound effects.
“Il Tempo dell’Amore” by New Trolls
New Trolls is an Italian progressive rock band formed in 1966. Despite being formed in Italy, the band is most well-known for their contributions to the Anglo-Progressive rock genre. “Il Tempo dell’Amore” is one of the band’s most popular and well-known songs, and is often considered to be one of the best Italian psychedelic rock songs of all time.
“Raggi di Sole” by Le Orme
Le Orme’s “Raggi di Sole” is the perfect introduction to Italian psychedelic rock. It’s a classic of the genre, and it’s a song that still sounds fresh and exciting today. With its catchy melodies and complex arrangements, “Raggi di Sole” is a must-hear for any fan of Italian psychedelia.
“L’Immenso” by Lucio Battisti
Lucio Battisti was one of the most popular and influential Italian singers and songwriters of the late 20th century. His style evolved throughout his career, from light pop to political folk rock to sophisticated and experimental blends of different genres. “L’Immenso” (“The Immense”) is a prime example of the latter, a six-minute psychedelic tour de force that would not sound out of place on a Pink Floyd album.
Battisti’s lyrics are cryptic and enigmatic, as usual, but the overall mood of the song is one of awe and wonder at the Immensity (with a capital I) of the universe. The arrangement is complex and swirling, with spacey effects provided by frequent collaborator Mogol. It’s a beautiful and mind-expanding song that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Italian psychedelic rock.
“La Bambola” by Patty Pravo
Italian psychedelic rock, also known as Italian rock, is a genre of rock music that developed in Italy in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The genre was pioneered by bands such as I Camaleonti, Gli Idoli, I Corvi, and La Nuova Generazione.
Italian psychedelic rock is characterized by its use of electric guitars, bass guitars, drums, and keyboard instruments, as well as by its incorporation of elements of psychedelia, such as echo effects and looping. The genre often features lengthy jams and improvisation.
“La Bambola” by Patty Pravo is one of the most popular Italian psychedelic rock songs. The song was released in 1968 and quickly became a hit in Italy. The song is notable for its use of electric guitars and echoed vocals.
The Legacy of Italian Psychedelic Rock
Italian psychedelic rock, also known as Italo psychedelia, is a subgenre of psychedelic rock that developed in Italy in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The genre emerged from the Italian underground music scene and was influenced by international psychedelic rock scenes, particularly that of the United Kingdom. Italian psychedelic rock reached the height of its popularity in the 1970s and was associated with bands such as Goblin, Le Orme, and Banco del Mutuo Soccorso.
The Influence of Italian Psychedelic Rock
Italian Psychedelic Rock, also known as Italo-psych, is a genre of rock music that originated in the late 1960s in Italy. It is characterized by its use of distorted guitars, extended improvised jams, and psychedelic textures.
The genre emerged from the Italian underground music scene, and was strongly influenced by the British psychedelic rock scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Italian bands began to experiment with new musical ideas and sounds borrowed from British bands such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix. They also incorporated elements of Italian folk music and pop music into their sound.
Italian Psychedelic Rock reached its peak of popularity in the early 1970s. Some of the most famous and influential bands of the genre include Le Orme, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Goblin, New Trolls, Il Rovescio della Medaglia, and Osanna. These bands combined psychedelic rock with other genres such as progressive rock, hard rock, jazz fusion, and classical music.
Despite its popularity at the time, Italian Psychedelic Rock was not commercially successful outside of Italy. It was largely overshadowed by other genres such as progressive rock and hard rock. Nevertheless, it had a significant impact on the development of European psychedelia and experimental rock. It also influenced many Italian musicians who would go on to have successful careers in other genres such as pop music and electronic dance music.
The End of Italian Psychedelic Rock
In the early 1970s, Italian psychedelic rock was at its peak, with bands like Osanna, area, and Le Orme experimenting with extended jams, complex time signatures, and electronic sounds. But by the middle of the decade, the scene had started to fragment. Some bands turned inward, focusing on more personal and introspective songwriting. Others drifted toward progressive rock and harder-edged styles. And some simply disbanded.
The end of Italian psychedelic rock was hastened by two external factors: the rise of punk rock in the late 1970s and the curtailing of state funding for music festivals in the early 1980s. As a result, many of the leading lights of the Italian psychedelic scene faded from view.
But their influence can still be felt in the work of contemporary Italian bands like Calibro 35 and Rotten Sound System. And while Italian psychedelic rock may no longer be as prolific as it once was, its legacy continues to inspire new generations of musicians.
