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Quella Vecchia Locanda - Quella Vecchia Locanda CD (album) cover

QUELLA VECCHIA LOCANDA

Quella Vecchia Locanda

 

Rock Progressivo Italiano

4.15 | 395 ratings

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Ivan_Melgar_M
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Many years ago, a friend introduced me to QUELLA VECCHIA LOCANDA (That Old Inn), with an original cassette of their self titled debut, my first thought was that I would probably listen another good band from the fertile Prog scenario of the early 70's, with beautiful melodies and a pastoral sire, but I was wrong.

QUELLA VECCHIA LOCANDA is a different specie, of course they have that unique Italian melodic sound but their approach is much more aggressive than most bands of the region, the massive use of violin makes the different to most of their coetaneous plus the fact that they still have a post Psyche sound reminiscent of the 60's with a relation to FOCUS rather than to any other band.

"Prologo" introduces us to their unique style, the first section is a contrapuntal between violin, piano, violin drums and then a an explosive section as intricate as the early works of KING CRIMSON, this guys rock much more than their peers and are not afraid to take a violent approach instead of the mellow and soft that we could expect from other band of Italy, even the choirs are absolutely radical with polyphonic and almost chaotic arrangements, in other words one in a kind.

"Un Villaggio, Un 'Illusione" starts again with the violin as lead instrument with a strong and perfectly syncopated drum as support, when the flute enters, I feel all the style of Thijs Van Leer, and the vocals introduce us to Hard Rock with a sound of the late 60's. The bass work by Romualdo Coletta is brilliant, and maintains the band connected with reality while the rest of the instruments are allowed to wander through uncharted territory. Special mention to the breathtaking violin solo, is simply outstanding.

The first notes of "Realta" announce that this is the first track in which they sound more as a classical Italian band, the sweet melody is impressive, but still the multi layered vocals indicate that the band wants to be unique. Even when they never abandon the soft mellow sound, they manage to experiment with contradictory styles and complex arrangements.

Now, if you want something really weird and experimental, pay special attention to "Immagini Sfuocate", an ultra elaborate track in which they allow themselves to do whatever they want, distorted guitar solos, rocking piano sections, weird sounds, they jam almost as if the Psyche years would had never left,

"Il Cieco" begins with a drum and bass duet that leads to some sort of Italian Rock with touches of Prog, but it's not until when the instrumental breaks begin that they dare to explore most than almost any Italian band of the era, the JETHRO TULL aroma is there, but much more rough and aggressive.

"Dialogo" is another complex track that reminds of KING CRIMSON structures, with a lot of dissonances and complex sections that morph into different ones in a matter of seconds, the song jumps from elaborate and weird to melodic and soft and weird again, in other words pure Progressive Rock.

"Verso Locanda" sounds like an Emersonian keyboard nightmare with Jazzy atmosphere and ultra radical changes, a good prelude for the melodic and extremely beautiful"Sogno, Risveglio E..." that closes the album with a fantastic piano performance by Massimo Roselli who almost makes me break in tears, specially when the nostalgic violin of Donald Lax and the flute of Giorgo Giordi join to create a Classical oriented song that closes the album with a special taste.

To be honest there are many Italian Symphonic albums that have impressed me more, but this album deserves no less than 4 stars, despite my personal taste.

Ivan_Melgar_M | 4/5 |

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