Artist

LYDIA E GLI HELLUA XENIUM
SCORPYO

Unknown

Two bands from Lombardy, probably from the Legnano/Busto Arsizio area, that had in common at least one of the musicians (guitarist Piero Giavini) and the fact that they released some great singles that are in every high-level Italian prog collector's dreams. The composers of these singles were the same (Fernando Lattuada and Complex, the nickname of Rinaldo Prandoni).

Issued between 1973 and 1974 the Hellua Xenium singles have a distinct dark prog style led by the voice of Lydia, with intense and dramatic atmospheres that few groups could reach. Guai a voi and Invocazione, from their first single, deserve a high rank in the top Italian prog tracks.
Due to the similarity of the female voice and some doomy atmospheres with Jacula/Antonius Rex works, added to the fact that their second single was released on Radio label (as Antonius Rex's Zora), some thought that the singer Lydia could be in fact Doris Norton, but the fact seems totally unreal.

The only single by Scorpyo, issued in 1977 again by Radio Records, was in the same style, two mainly instrumental compositions with choral voices and dark atmospheres.
Both tracks had been in fact recorded in 1974/75 at Milan's Regson studio by a group called La Corte dei Miracoli (no relations with the well-known group from Savona), composed by Piero Giavini (guitar and vocals, ex Lydia e gli Hellua Xenium), Chicco Conti (keyboards), Piero Caccia (mini moog), Gigi Parlani (sax), Alfredo Pagani (bass) and Mauro "Bobo" Salmoiraghi (drums). There is no confirmation, but it seems that Destinazione infinito and Visioni were first issued on a single under this group's name.
When La Corte dei Miracoli broke up, around 1976, guitarist Giavini formed Scorpyo and the following year the single was reissued under the new band's name.

Among the rarest and most researched singles in the whole Italian production, both Lydia singles command incredibly high prices, having been released on small labels. 
Apparently the second single, Diluvio, was just released with a company sleeve.
Both sides from the first single were included in the Meteora CD compilation, privately released in 1997.

The Scorpyo single is also very rare and never reissued in any form.

Guai a voi (Lydia & gli Hellua Xenium) - 7" single cover - front and back
Guai a voi (Lydia & gli Hellua Xenium) - label
Destinazione infinito (Scorpyo) - 7" single cover
Destinazione infinito (Scorpyo) - label

Thanks to Rockground (www.rockground.it) for scans and information on these rare singles.
The history of Scorpyo was first published on John's Classic Rock website, thanks to JJ Martin