DEDICATO A GIOVANNA G.

Here's a rarity for those wishing to go deep into the classic Italian period. Hunka Munka's one full length album from 1972 features rather high-pitched vocals, lots of piano and organ, acoustic guitars, and fairly straightforward pop-rock songs with a light prog touch. Hunka Munka is the moniker of keyboardist Roberto Carlotto who was considered quite talented and innovative. I wasn't able to unearth much more information about this artist than Mandi did in his bio.

"Nasce un Giorno" opens the album with playful bouncy piano followed by strumming acoustic and vocal reminding of Adriano Monteduro & Reale Accademia di Musica's collaboration perhaps. "Ruote e Sogni" is the proggiest song opening with organ and drum fills. It builds gradually and features some pretty decent drum work. There is a heavy rock section in the second half with wild drums and guitar against the Hammond background. It gets fairly intense for a bit. "L'Aereoplano d'argento" is a piano based pop song that could be likened to an early Billy Joel song, like something from Streetlife Serenade or Cold Spring Harbour except with much higher vocal range. "Cattedrali di Bambu" is a nice track blending majestic orchestrations with acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies. It will be over the top cheesy for some sounding a bit like Tai Phong. There is some leftover 60s influence here too of things like The Iveys/early Badfinger. "Anniversario" begins with organ and single drum beating like a heartbeat until bass joins. Echoed vocals and organ ride atop the still very minimal rhythm arrangement. The vocal harmonies get quite ambitious leading into a section with some acid flavored electric guitar and space rock vibe. This would be another area that moves briefly from pop-rock to proggier ambitions. "Lo Cantero Per Te" begins with strings and piano introducing a heartfelt longing vocal. This turns into a slow ballad that will be sappy to many who hear it but I don't mind it. "Intermezzo #1" is a short piano vocal bit. "Giovanna G" is a catchy bit of funky folk sounding very 60s and like a mellower "South Bound Suarez." "Intermezzo #2" is another short vocal but this time to organ instead of piano. "Il Canto Dell Amore" is another pop ballad with flowery drama and orchestration but the arrangements are really quite nice. "Muore" is a silly McCartney-like ditty to close the album.

This is a fun little album combining the lighter pop side of Italian prog with a dose of the "Magic Christian" era Badfinger sound and the grandiosity of Tai Phong's vocal style. It is well done and enjoyable if that description sounds appealing to you, but it will not be enough to satisfy heavy Italian fans or heavy prog fans in general. The sound quality is adequate on the mini-lp sleeve reissue but not spectacular. The BMG reissue features the toilet seat lid that opens up like on the original vinyl. This is far from an essential title but a modest recommendation for fans of the lighter Italian side.