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SUN SUPREME (ITA. LTD. PAPERSLEEVE ED.)
IBIS
1974 , ITALY - EURO 16.00
Label: VM 2000
ALBUM REVIEW
...Sun Supreme by Ibis, originally released in 1974 on Polydor is simply one of the greats of Italian prog. A lot of problems started surfacing with New Trolls in 1972-73. They released UT at the end of '72 which caused the split, mainly because Vittorio de Scalzi wanted a more prog direction of the band, while Nico di Palo wanted the band to move more toward hard rock. So there was legal matter to who owned the New Trolls. After that, De Scalzi's band became N.T. Atomic System, and Di Palo's band was actually without a name originally...Then the band received some future member changes, including none other than ex-Atomic Rooster drummer Ric Parnell (he's the guy who replaced Carl Palmer when he left for ELP) and music fans got to vote for a band name, which became Ibis...Musically they sound a whole lot like a much more aggressive version of Yes...Yes-like vocal harmonies, lyrics that lean heavily on Eastern philosophy, great keyboards (Moog, Hammond, Eminent, harpsichord), guitar that brings to mind Steve Howe at times (particularly the acoustic passages), and wonderful, inspired compositions...The album consists of two side length suites, the first part (or side one, if you own the LP) even containing mini-suites. The only weak spot on this album is "Divinity Part 2", mainly because of the drum solo... Aside from that, there really isn't a high point, since the whole album is great. The band sings in English...Simply one of the greatest of Italian prog albums, and aside from that, one of the greatest prog albums in the vein of Yes. Essential prog you should not go without. (B.Miler) 
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