MURPLE - Io Sono Murple
'Io Sono Murple' is a concept album by an Italian band concering a penguin called Murple who leaves Antarctica and goes on a wondrous adventure where he is captured by an evil man and forced to join a circus, and then end his days in a zoo. Reading that in black and white you would think that this album is a load of rubbish, but beacause of the outstanding music contained on here - and it also helps that you cannot understand the lyrics - we are presented with another Italian album that knocks spots off many of our homegrown progressive bands of the period. It originally came out in 1974, and combines hard rock themes with classical organ sweeps to produce a truly progressive piece of music. It should appeal to fans of ELP and King Crimson, or anyone else who appreciates good musicianship and well presented prog rock. Available on both CD and vinyl, the latter also containing inserts detailing the history of the band, full lyrics, and a superb gatefold sleeve.