SAMADHI
Samadhi
•Rock Progressivo Italiano
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![]() Good, but non-essential Write a review |
Studio Album, released in 1974 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Uomo Stanco (4:05) - Luciano Regoli / vocals
FONIT CETRA CDM 2031 and to Snow Dog for the last updates Edit this entry |
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![]() | alles & mehr by samadhi terra sound | $56.71 |
![]() | The Finest of Sorrow by Samadhi Tribunal | $12.49 |
![]() | Samadhi by Samadhi (2008-05-09) Btf | $50.06 |
![]() | Pure Light by Samadhi (2011-05-04) CD Baby | $43.74 |
![]() | The Finest of Sorrow by Samadhi (2002-07-23) Tribunal | $21.76 |
![]() | Samadhi INDIE JAPAN 2011 | $37.84 (used) |

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SAMADHI Samadhi ratings distribution
(45 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(9%)
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(44%)
Good, but non-essential (33%)
Collectors/fans only (11%)
Poor. Only for completionists (2%)
SAMADHI Samadhi reviews
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Collaborators/Experts Reviews
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk

SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

"Samadhi" has to be one of the best kept secrets of the classic Italian scene. This album is so fantastic to me: it has everything I love about music. It puts melody and emotion above forced complexity, the playing is very good but not excessive, and there is variety is spades. Samadhi was the short -lived project of some big names on the scene, described by some as a "super-group" it featured two members of Raccomandata Ricevuta Ritorno, one from Teoremi, one from L'Uovo Di Colombo, and one from Kaleidon. Luciano Regoli and Nanni Civitenga began the formation of Samadhi when RRR fell apart looking to take things in a completely original direction. Keyboardist Stefano Sabatini and Aldo Bellanova were the main composers with quality lyrics created by poet Enrico Lazzareschi. The album was recorded and mixed in Torino in the fall of 1973. Fonit released this fine album in 1974 and as with the fabulous Alusa Fallax, promptly chose to ignore it in favor of promoting the Osanna offshoot Uno. The band would split up shortly thereafter.
The sound of Samadhi takes the "standard" Italian prog sound in some new directions, some old ones, and delivers a strange concoction that just makes me feel good. There is a bit of a happy 60s psych feel at times, some ripping rock guitar, some jazzy excursions, and wild surprises served up with a crisp bit of "Yes Album" enthusiasm to the sound. Scented Gardens describes the album as "marvellous songwriting, veering between the classic old pop music tradition and jazzy progressive rock..happy songs with a sunny Mediterranean feel, high-pitched lead vocals, fine vocal harmonies, lots of keyboards, laced with guitars and phased drums..great arrangements for strings and brass..even had the bassoon playing an important role..radiates friendly, human warmth and is recommended to those who like the second Procession album." It certainly is an uplifting experience to me with each element coming and going at just the right moment to keep things exciting. Stefani's outstanding keyboard work is the heart of the album to me while complementing the flute and brass sections. Throughout is stellar drumming and joyous guitar lines perfectly layered with the keys. There is even a big send-up of prog-funk that sounds like Nucleus found their way into the studio one day. On the whole it's a good example of why I often prefer the music of this period to today's albums which people claim sound so much better. No way. This music has warmth and more importantly space to hear each instrument breathe on its own. There is no dense wall of oppressive machine-sound to an album like Samadhi but more of an organic feel. "L'uomo Stanco" starts with a sunny pop feel and a strange effect on the percussion that throws one off-kilter but the organ is instantly likeable. The second track "Un Milione di Anni Fa" is where it gets very cool with this very Yes-ish guitar/drum feel and of all things a bassoon creeping around the edges. Sabatini's instrumental "Passaggio di Via Arpino" is another highlight morphing jazzy e-piano with funky brass and some blistering guitar, chilled out with flute and hand percussions. Hell yeah! Side two starts with "Fantasia" which is a pleasant pop-prog track with great bass and flute, very upbeat stuff. "Silenzio" starts quite pleasantly but drifts into strange territory with oddly distorted sounds and otherworldy voices in one spot topped by more fine leads from Civitenga. The album ends on a high note with the longest track "L'ultima Spiaggia" at over 8 minutes. This is pure Symphonic beauty like only the Italians can do it with passionate vocals that reach for the sky in a few places. The piano and bass playing are so gorgeous as they slowly wind into these mystical choired voices that crescendo to the heavens.
The album will take hits from people for not sounding cohesive due to the explorative nature, others will diss the singer's high register pipes and still others might find the playful pop elements in a few tracks unforgivable. I find Samadhi to be absolutely rewarding and a must for anyone who enjoys early '70s progressive and doesn't mind non-English vocals. The BTF gatefold mini-LP sleeve edition is fabulous with remastered sound and a nice booklet with photo and history. 8/10
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

PROG REVIEWER

"Uomo Stanco" is a top three track for me on this album. Strummed guitar to open as organ joins in. A full sound comes in with vocals. I was instantly drawn in by those incredible vocals, how can you not smile ? Nice bass lines throughout. Guitar 2 minutes in is pleasant. Excellent organ to end it. "Un Milione D'Anni Fa" has a bit of a classical vibe because of the strings and bassoon. The vocals are great. A fair amount of piano too. Pretty cool track. "L'Angelo" opens with acoustic guitar then electric guitar, piano and drums take over. Vocals and bass follow. Fantastic guitar after 1 1/2 minutes. Vocal melodies and horns follow. "Passaggio Di Via Arpino" features percussion early as flute comes in. This song becomes the jazziest tune yet when the piano, light drums, sax and bass take over. Some outstanding guitar follows. Great section before 5 minutes with flute. I like this instrumental a lot.
"Fantasia" is another top 3 song for me. It opens with organ,a full sound follows. Love the vocals before a minute. Some good organ and flute in this one, piano late. "Silenzio" is mellow to start then strummed guitar and piano follow. Electric guitar and vocals after a minute. The guitar 4 1/2 minutes to the end is a treat. The previous two songs bring PFM to mind at times. "L'Ultima Spiaggia" is the longest song by far and my favourite. Piano intro as reserved vocals join in. A full sound before 1 1/2 minutes with flute. Check out the vocals 3 minutes in as he brings some passion in his singing. Some beautiful piano melodies later then we get deep male vocal melodies joining the piano, drums and bass.This goes on and on and it's so moving.
I know this could be said about a lot of Italian bands but it's too bad they only put out one album. I'm just glad I own it.
PROG REVIEWER

Most of the songs available have little to do with the great ISP i love. They are simple in structure, at times just basis pop-rock sung in Italian ("L'Angelo", "Fantasia").
The second half of this album is definitely better and shows a more prog angle to their music. Still, the jazzy instrumental "Passaggio Di Via Arpino" is not my cup of tea. After having pressed next to avoid the weak "Fantasia", I was reaching the first very good song ("Silenzio").
To be complete, I would add that the closing number (over eight minutes) is a fine ISP song with excellent piano and fine vocals. But these two good songs aren't enough to make a good album. At least to my standards. Two stars (you can add another half one).
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator

Perhaps in response to the lack of success received by RRR, Samhadhi went in a more mainstream direction showing far less of the diverse eclectic nature of their former band and it has to be said as a result it's a less interesting album. Nevertheless it's still respectable enough, though not a classic of the RPI genre by any means. Sometimes the music even drifts into pop but fortunately there's enough going on to keep the listeners interest to more than a passing glance. Along with the pop influences, there's the occasional jazz touch like on Passaggio Di Via Arpino which makes considerable use of brass. Symphonic and acoustic elements also feature along with some orchestration. They save the best and longest until last. Some very good Piano dominates the sound of L'ultima Spiaggia, a song of greater diversity than most of the songs here. A lovely fluid bass shines through and it closes with a long repetitive choral section.
While the sophisticated pop vibe of some of the material doesn't over-excite me Samhadhi produced a good album, nothing less, nothing more. Worth your investigation then, after you've finished with the more essential RPI titles.
Latest members reviews
The perfection of Classic RPI!
A sort of supergroup, as most of their members came from well-known bands, Samadhi
were formed after the split of Raccomandata con Ricevuta di Ritorno by singer Regoli and
guitarist Civitenga, along with keyboard player Sabatini (from Free Love and Kaleidon), Al
... (read more)
Report this review (#234862) | Posted by 1967/ 1976 | Monday, August 24, 2009 | Review Permanlink
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