UOMINI UMILI POPOLI LIBERI

Another band from Italy,which didn't manage to release anything during the 70's.Initially named Pop Eneide,they were formed in 1970 in Padova by a team of teenagers.The band was a supporting act to big bands like Genesis or Atomic Rooster and toured next to Van Der Graaf Generator.By 1972 they shrunk their name to simply Eneide and recorded an album scheduled to be released on the Trident label.Due to the failure of the later,the album didn't see the light until 1990,when members of the band issued it in a limited number of signed copies.''Uomini Umili Popoli Liberi'' has succeeded a couple of CD re-issues by Mellow Records and BTF.

The band was talented and tried to cover as many styles and track-lengths as possible,mainly in a Hard Prog style with Folk,Jazz and Classical influences.Of course not every track on the album is great,but all compositions are well-arranged.For example the opening track has strong Folk leanings or the following ''Il male'' is characterized by a heavy rock sound with strong organ and flute not unlike JUMBO.The longest composition ''Non voglio catene'' reminds me of Kraut-Rock with jamming organ and long guitar soloing.''Canto della rassegnazione'' is an acoustic Folk/Classical piece,featuring flute and strings,while the energetic slow-tempo 'Oppressione e disperazione'' contains evident DEEP PURPLE overtones with dominant organ and guitars.On ''Ecce omo'' appears the moog synth of Carlo Barnini,making it the more symphonic track of the album,along with the delicate flutes of Adriano Pegoraro and the hard guitar playing of Gianluigi Cavaliere.The self-titled track has strong OSANNA influences,powerful and groovy Hard Prog with driving flutes and harsh vocals by Cavaliere.''Viaggia cosmico'' is a light acoustic piece with a string department supporting and Cavaliere singing in a warm style.''Un mondo nuovo'' doesn't differ much,acoustic music with Classical strings and romantic vocal lines,while on the closing ''Cantico alle stelle - traccia II'' the opening theme of the album is repeated.

Eneide were around until mid-70's,when the band broke up for good.A brief reunion took place around 1995 with leader Gianluigi Cavaliere,bassist Romeo Pegoraro and drummer Diego Polato.The trio even started recording a rock opera ''called Il sogno di Oblomov'',but this was cut halfway through due to the members' heavy work commitments.

Still Eneide left behind a good documentary of their activity during early-70's.Well-executed Hard Prog with some nice breaks and virtuosic solos and a variety of music approaches.Recommended.