IL LUNGO CAMMINO DEI RAMINGHI

A one-shot Italian act from Bergamo, established in late-60's and led by bassist/singer Franco Mussita.They released a few singles and only one full-length album on the obcure Bentler label.At the time of their sole work Mussita was surrounded by Angelo Sartori on keyboards, Angelo India Serighelli on guitar and Romeo Cattaneo on drums.Under the title ''Il lungo cammino'' this was released in 1971.

The opening side of the original LP possibly contains the best tracks of the release, like the long ''Donna hai ragione tu'' or the short but haunting ''La nostra verita'', two good pieces of downtempo Heavy/Psych/Prog Rock with dominant use of Hammond organ, full of scratching guitars and irritating vocals, either in sung or narration forms, and a quite dark atmosphere, a bit similar to GLI ALLUMINOGENI or HUNKA MUNKA's more psychedelic moments.The next two cuts find I Raminghi still heavily influenced by the 60's, having a groovier and definitely poppier sound with commercial leanings and an uninspired style many bands have played in the past with more success.On the flipside the crime has come to an end.The absolutely hillarious and uninteresting ''Every day Jesus'' and the early NEW TROLLS-inspired ''Non Moriremo Mai'' with the cheesy polyphonic lines make the listener think that another band is performing on the B-side.''Buio mondo nero e giallo'' sounds extremely influenced by JIMMY HENDRIX with the strong guitar work of Serighelli, but the non-existent variations and the catchy chorus are not really representitive of the Italian Prog movement.A melodic but rather mediocre ballad under the title of ''Guarda tuo padre'' will close the album with the smooth vocal lines and the mellow piano/harsichord parts.

I Raminghi disbanded during the second half of the 70's, while some good musicians had passed by their line-up, like Titta Colleoni and Michele Capogrosso, both of Perdio fame.From the band members Mussita had a good collaboration with Antonius Rex on the ''Zora'' album, while Serighelli had a decent solo career with a full-length album and a few singles, followed by his Hard Rock act Wizard since 1985.He sadly passed away in 2008.

I Raminghi were a band with an experimental mood, but apparently to come up with a full-blown Psych/Prog album was too much for them.Their sole release is a below average Italian Proto-Prog/Pop Rock affair, exculively heading to starvers of the style.The BTF reissue contains also a 1975 live performance of the group, which I have not heard, but reputedly finds the band in full shape.