Week of January 1, 2006
Personnel:
Luciano Regoli - vocals
Nanni Civitenga - guitars
Aldo Bellanova - bass, guitar
Stevo Saradzic - flute, sax
Sandro Conti - drums
Ruggero Stefani - percussion
Album:
Samadhi - 1974 Fonit LPQ 09080
(reissued on CD by Fonit Cetra CDM 2031 in 1989)
This is one of the Italian 'super groups', being a combination of previous
members from Raccomandata
Ricevuta Ritorno (Regoli and Civitenga), I Teoremi (Bellanova)
and L'Uovo Di Colombo
(Stefani). Their combined efforts were lighter in spirit than one would have
expected. This is, in fact, an album of marvellous songwriting, veering between
the classic old pop music tradition and jazzy progressive rock. "Un Uomo
Stanco" and "Fantasia" were happy songs with a sunny Mediterranean
feel, high-pitched lead vocals, fine vocal harmonies, lots of keyboards, laced
with guitars and phased drums. These and most other tracks had great
arrangements for strings and brass. "Un Milione D'Anni Fa" even had the
bassoon playing an important role.
"Passagio Di Via Arpino", the only instrumental track, is top class
European jazzy progressive where funky electric piano alternates with heavy
brass, rounded off with a solid electric guitar solo. The whole album radiates
friendly, human warmth and is recommended particularly to those who like the
second Procession
album.
Taken from Scented Gardens of the Mind - A guide to the Golden Era of Progressive Rock (1968-1980) in more than 20 European Countries, by Dag Erik Asbjørnsen, Borderline Productions, ISBN 1-899855-12-2