IL GRANDE GIOCO

Albero Motore was an Italian rock band from the mid 1970s who were influenced by the vibrant RPI scene all around, but never truly a prog band. The band from Rome had a short burst of success in 1974 after a great reception at festivals (the Festival of Avant-Garde in Naples in 1973, in Villa Borghese and Villa Pamphili in 1974) and went on to release their only album, aided by the musical everyman Ricky Gianco. Gianco's socially conscious lyrics were said to be quite good, covering everything from the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, the counterculture, imperialist domination of cultures, and globalism. A single would follow in 1975 after which the band split.

Not a particularly original project, the album sounds very much like a mixture of 60s and early 70s rock influences. You can hear some American rock and bluesy-classic rock intention, the Italian pop sound, and there are moments that sound like English rockers Badfinger, the Stones, Joe Cocker, and Traffic. Similar Italian groups would be Libra or Raminghi. Gruffy, unshaven vocals over electric and acoustic guitars, some honky-tonk piano, and bluesy rhythms. The guitar solo on "Christofo Colombo" is pure Joey Molland. "Le esperienze passate" has a cool piano introduction and some brief strings. Closer "Capodanno '73" is an instrumental which heads in a fusion direction with spirited acoustic as well as electric guitar. Here the pace really kicks up a notch and it's a shame they waited this long to catch the wave.

Here and there you will find somewhat more elaborate flavorings or arrangements but for the most part there is little RPI excitement to be found. The album is not unpleasant but surely would be limited in appeal to fans of Italian rock. Somewhere between 2 and 3 stars, it should please fans of good rock and roll but may leave RPI fans underwhelmed. Worth looking for if you have a deep RPI collection.

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