VUOTI A RENDERE

or the dawn of the 1970s? I love how VaR are able to capture the low-fi "retro" late 60s sound. There are a number of early Italian bands that predated the 72-73 explosion and released albums that were somewhere between the later RPI movement and a dark/heavy version of 60s beat and rock. If you didn't know the release year you could easily mistake this album for one of those pioneering bands. (Yet there is also an economy to their playing which suggests more modern rock influences.) The 28 minute running time is another charming marker of the genre, so many short RPI albums.

Since the release of their debut album last year, the band played Italy's MEI event for independent bands but seemed somewhat disillusioned with the experience. Their sax player Annalisa departed the band last November and VaR continues on as a three piece unit with occasional guest sax parts. On their second album "Ruggine" (Rust), the three piece covers similar ground to the debut but with less sax, and perhaps more angst. The mood is again quite dark lyrically and this feeling is enhanced by the somewhat claustrophobic sound they have designed.

I miss the longer, melancholic and meandering piano that occurred on the first album, but I sense the guys were pushing harder here and there seems to be a palatable need for the release it brings. There are acid-psych-blues elements that recall the vibe of 60s Floyd (think Nick Mason plowing away with abandon over organ and guitar, with those rolling drums, ala Pompeii) mixed with bits of later bands like Laser or Metamorfosi. Vocals and guitars are not so much concerned with precision as with experimenting and creating anxiety, tension, mood. There's a bit of where The Doors might take things if they were able to lock Morrison in the basement and just jam in a small club as a trio. What I imagine Syd's guitar may have sounded like on particularly saucy versions of "Lucy Leave."

I think the three guys in VaR love to play and that comes through: after you listen several times you can hear the great instincts they have for weaving catchy and interesting parts. Anxious, caffeinated guitars, sullen, murky organ, and that early, long-haired Nicky Mason style of drumming from his short-lived salad days. These are short, economic songs which aren't trying to compete with PFM's glossy symphonic epics, they are all about communicating in a much more direct way. They aren't trying to be "progressive technical wizards" for a prog-only audience. It's very personal. I love the immediacy. They almost bring a bit of the Minutemen/Firehose philosophy to their brand, although of course, in a far less aggressive non-punk manner.

It all comes together well. While some listeners may not find this band "prog enough" for their royal tastes, "Ruggine" is a really tasty little album that I enjoyed very much. 7/10.

Traipsing through Andrea Parentin's RPI blog I stumbled upon the most wonderful new band, Vuoti a Rendere. They released their debut album this summer entitled "Baciati dall'Inganno" (Kissed By Deception) and I was initially drawn in by the grey yet playful album art.

When thinking about who they might sound like, the first bands that popped into my head were Ornithos, and LaGartija, bands which enjoyed doing long instrumental passages that often employed saxophone as a featured instrument. Still they seem more intent on rock than jazz and on mood more than intricate structures of symphonic grandeur. Spidery guitar leads that sounded like soundtracks to 60s spy thrillers careen with long piano passages of pure Italian melancholy, occasional dramatic Italian vocals, and finally to sweaty workouts of saxophone, guitars, keys and drum. The ingredients are pretty basic here and the production understated. But the result was exhilarating to me because I love bands who exude unbridled enthusiasm for playing, who make you feel their discovery of the freedom of jamming like you were in the room.

The album reminds me immediately of my favorite kind of 1970s RPI, the lesser-known groups not trying to mimic English Symphonic progressive rock, but rather putting their own hometown flavor on jamming and creativity. Who manage to somehow wrap sadness and joy in the same strand, who can take a piano passage like the fantastic "Osservati dalla Minaccia dei Pensieri" (Watched by the Threat of Thoughts) and bend it to will, spooky one moment, divine the next. Subtle guitar dances behind the keys, dramatic results, memorable passages that linger with you. Soon the piano becomes near frantic as spoken word comes. Seven minutes that would thrill Krieger and Manzarek I do believe. A vibe of sullen mood and mystery around the edges. While certainly not an essential recording for every RPI collection, this is a very respectable debut with flashes of brilliance and obvious potential. I recommend them without reservation to my friends who love the grittier side. 7/10.

A personal thanks to Raffaela Berry for providing me translation and giving me insight into the lyrical notions of the album.