DEDICATO A GIOVANNA G.

Roberto Carlotto, under the "Hunka Munka" moniker, released his first and only solo album in 1972. A good album with many memorable moments, Dedicato a Giovanna G. also has its share of forgettable ones and can only garner a 3-star recommendation. Still, this is an underrated and under-appreciated gem that would be an excellent addition to an Italian Prog collection, but superfluous for the average prog fan. Hunka Munka ultimately create an Italian Pop album with progressive tendencies, and remind me a lot of I Dik Dik (the group Carlotto would later join) - particularly Suite per una Donna Assolutamente Relativa.

The first thing to grab your attention is the album cover. The die-cut toilet bowl lid actually opens up to reveal a candid shot of the musicians. Joining Carlotto are Ivan Graziani on guitar, and Nunzio Favio on drums. Both provide serviceable contributions, especially Favio, whose playing recalls Carl Palmer pretty distinctly. I would even argue his drumming here is superior to anything he did with Osage Tribe. As is the case with much Italian Pop of this era, some of the songs are also orchestrated and accompanied by sappy strings and brass. Luckily this augmentation doesn't last too terribly long, and in some cases actually adds a cheerful tone to the album. The main disappointment is the amount of repetition in the songwriting...no less than three tracks are essentially different takes on the same tune, a la Papillon for those familiar with Latte e Miele. This repetition just makes the listener feel cheated and belies the relatively lengthy run time [Although the album is a mere 35 minutes, the average Rock Progressivo Italiano album from this period was typically 30 minutes or even less].

Of the 11 tracks, highlights include "Ruote e Sogni," a Keith Emerson-sounding piece and the longest on the album. Expect grandiose pipe organ, bombastic drumming, and passionate singing...a real treat and probably the best song here. "L'Aeroplano d'Argento" is a lot of fun and makes you want to just get up and dance! "Cattedrali Di Bambu" has a much more somber tone and is quite dramatic and memorable. These sequential tracks provide the real meat of Dedicato a Giovanna G. and will be the most rewarding. This album is worth seeking out eventually, but not immediately essential. The only version currently available and in print is the AMS/BTF vinyl reissue; it may be best to wait for the CD or a more affordable digital version to become available again.