PER... UN MONDO DI CRISTALLO

A slightly scattered concept album about an astronaut returning to a dead earth. One of the top bands in the second tier of RPI 70's bands. R.R.R.(REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT) is yet another 'one release and disappeared' bands. (A second album from them was postponed until 2010, a bit late for most who loved them).

First song Nulla is only a church organ intro to Su Una Rupa, a Tull-esque baroque mid tempo gem. It's a varying of moods: some frenetic riffing immediately followed by classical guitar that leads to some Genesis in a pastoral mood but then collapses in a heap at the end.

Third song is the first real gem, Il Mondo Cade (Su Di Me), acoustic guitar and flute intro is good, but shows that at first listen, they lack in some catchiness to melodies. It follows into some nice drums with creepy high vocals, and is the best song yet. Univers Zero would be a reference point on this song. it then blends into an Amon Duul 2 Yeti style flute bongo and acoustic guitar jam...which trails off and fades out. That's twice now songs just end awkwardly. Final song of side one, a lurching jazz piano and sax jazz song seems very out of character, perhaps trying hard to display different moods of the protagonist returning to a ruined earth. This is their only burst of jazz on the album.

L'Ombra starts side two with an organ and piano duet that devolves into a Magma like piano and drum duel that I really wish was recorded better, as instruments sink into a not very dynamic sonic midrange. Vocalist Lucian Regoli is yet another powerful RPI vocalist that doesn't have that edge that can be offputting to some newcomers to Italian prog. Their best song, Un Palco Di Marionette is a medley of styles. What could be considered American 70's FM west coast stylings (albeit through that darn Italian lens) collide with some stops for a little Tull riffing. Atonal piano and film dialogue. harpsichord and a bit of le Orme all mix for a pretty good jam (their best one on the album) which finishes with some genuinely catchy heavy rocking reminiscent of VDGG that ends far too soon.The final bits are reminiscent of first Procession album, big 12 string acoustic guitars (here accompanied by flute) lay down a nice ending to the ride. Orchestral arrangement at the end attempts to put a bit of gravitas into the mix, with middling success. It is a nice outro, with background synths whistling and warbling over elegiac acoustic and flute melodies that are some of the strongest of the album. They saved their best stuff for side 2.

My gripe is that this is not a great recording. It reminds me of some of the first obscure Italian import stuff I heard in the late 70's when I didn't really know anything --but bands I had never heard of had in common lots of quiet sections followed by a bursts of activity with vocals that don't cut through well in a murky recording.

Pretty satisfying, somewhat scattered but definitely worth a listen. HIghly recommended for RPI fans though. Not for beginners, only those who have dipped their toes a bit into RPI.

Jethro Tull, Osanna and PFM with a small dab of UZ RIO stylings? Very Italian, and that is a compliment . This is another one that might not grab you at first. I wasn't blown away initially but after four or five plays, it made me come back at least once a week.

The painting that is the center of the gatefold album is a perfect encapsulaton of the whole concept.

3.75 stars