Ys (Il Balletto di Bronzo album)

Ys (pronounced EESS) is the second studio album by the Italian progressive rock band Il Balletto di Bronzo. It was released in 1972.

Contents

• Track listing
• Personnel
• Songs
• References

Here the band presents a concept album, with the protagonist the last man left on earth Earth, who makes an incredible journey in three episodes, eventually, and tragically, disappearing in the dark, as was the fate for the mythical island of Ys, swallowed up by the waters.

After the first album Sirio 2222, the band lineup changes with the departure Stinga Jenkins (drums) and the addition of the young keyboardist Gianni Leone (ex City Front) and Gianchi Stringa (drums).

The band makes an abrupt change from a hard rock sound with psychedelic elements to a darker, more operatic approach, which exerts instrumental passages of considerable thickness and complexity. Gianni Leone gains composer credit and dominates much of the album playing various keyboards and contributing all vocals minus the introductory female chorus line, which also (backmasked) serves as the album's reflective epilogue.

Much of Gianni Leone's keyboard sounds and technique--as well as stage persona--often evokes comparisons to Keith Emerson.

Leone samples parts from the album on his solo release Vero, under the alias Leo Nero.