RED TAPE MACHINE

One of the stranger prog bands of the original 70s Italian scene was probably the least Italian sounding of them all despite emerging from the heart of Italy's Marche region in Urbino. The band's roots dated back to 1964 when then simply Anonima Sound was a beat band that released a total of four singles from 1967 - 1970 but after guitarist / vocalist Ivan Graziani left in 1970, the remaining duo of Walter Monacchi (bass) and Vello Gualazz (drums) changed the name to ANONIMA SOUND LTD and reformed the band in 1971 with several members as well as changing its sound to a trippier psychedelic folk style.

As ANONIMA SOUND LTD the band released its first single 'Io Prendo Amore' in 1971 and had a minor hit but soon the lineup was turned into a seven member crew and the band which included the Americans Richard Ingersoll (vocals, flute) and Claudine Reiner (drums) along with Englishman Peter Dobson (guitar) gave it a more Anglo dominant sound. The band began adopting the influences of Jethro Tull and completely removed any shred of its Italian origins. After finding a home on the Arcobaleno label as ANOMNIMA SOUND LTD the band released its sole album THE RED TAPE MACHINE in 1972.

Sounding several years behind the rest of the prog scene in Italy, this album sounds more like a Cat Stevens album than anything that could possibly come out of Italy. Primarily folk rock based songs with lyrics completely in English, the musical constructs are backed up by Tull-ish flutes. The album sounds more like a California folk rock band but offers some interesting contrasts between the folkier sections and the overtly rock moments. The 60s beat aspects are still quite present in the drumming patterns and the vocal style which makes this sound more like something that might have emerged from the psychedelic rock scene on the West Coast of the USA in 1968 rather than the heart of Italy in 1972. It's a very melodic album with catchy hooks. Meloni's vocal style may be a bit limiting but it's not horrible either.

While some will claim this as an overlooked gem, others who stumble upon this will wonder how in the world this strange little album ever emerged from Italy in 1972. While not unpleasant in the least bit there is nothing even remotely similar to the symphonic and heavy prog bands that were flooding Italy by the day in the early 1970s. The bluesy stripped down nature of this one has certainly attracted its underground admirers but unless you're into roots music with a few psychedelic and prog flavors then this one will completely disappoint. I'm attracted to some of these low rated albums because sometimes certain artists were just to weird to be understood and totally up my alley but in this case this is just an average and rather bland anomaly that despite coming from the 1970s Italian prog scene sounds as alien from it as any i've yet experienced.