TIME OF CHANGE

The TRIP were a three man classical prog rock band who fused strong jazz and classical influences with those of rock creating a thought provoking album full of twists and turns. Because of the leading keyboard focus, The TRIP have been long associated with ELP and although I do hear EMERSONian-like keyboard inspirations, I hear a character completely on its own. Everytime I listen to this album I always marvel at the excellent musicanship and instrumental execution they were able to convey on this album. Centrepiece of the album revolves around the varied keyboard work of Vescovi (piano and moog) who is able to lead from so many different musical styles... jazz, classical and rock. Vocals are convincingly sung in English without any heavy accent residue. This album is also graced with some simply incredible drumming via Furio Chirico who joined for this album and then left to lend his talents to the act "ARTI + MESTIERI". Bass work is crisp and punchy with some excellent contributions throughout. Overall a great album full of grand progressive character and fantastic musicanship.

The TRIP was usually thought of as an Italian band, but in reality, they were a British band, formed in London in 1967, but they went to Italy and started acquiring Italian musicians not too long after they formed, so for practical purposes, they are Italian.

1973's "Time of Change" was their final album, by which they were no longer recording for RCA, but for Trident, a small, independent Italian label best known for giving us the likes of SEMIRAMIS and BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO. The band at this point consisted of keyboardist Joe Vescovi, bassist Arvid "Wegg" Andersen, and drummer Furio Chirico, all credited to vocal duties. It's Andersen who was there from the beginning when they were residing in England (although I suspect Arvid "Wegg" Andersen was Danish-born, given his name). If the name Furio Chirico sounds familiar, well, the next band he was in was ARTI & MESTIERI. He was also on their previous album, "Atlantide", but not their previous two ("Caronte", and their self-entitled 1970 debut).

Don't expect fusion-oriented prog like you do ARTI & MESTIERI, expect keyboard- driven prog, with some ELP influences. The album starts off with the side- length "Rhapsodia". Here you get treated with lots of Hammond organ, piano, Eminent, and synthesizers. A lot of the music tends to be a bit on the cheery side, which threw me off. The vocals tend to be on the hard rock side. And while the song titles are in Italian, they are sung in English. I don't really detect an accent. What's known is the vocals are often in the hard rock vein. When Joe Vescovi played piano, it was often in the ragtime style, like what Emerson did on "Jeremy Bender", "The Sheriff", and "Benny the Bouncer". The organ in the music is often ELP-like. The lyrics are a bit on the cheesy side. And if you enjoyed Chirico's drumming on ARTI & MESTIERI, you'll enjoy it here, as he often plays just as fast, often hard telling the difference between a roll and a fill. "Formula Nova" is a totally amazing instrumental demonstrating the finest quality of this band, where the intensity doesn't let up. "De Sensibus" is a bizarre experimental piece, dominated by percussion. "Corale" is a classically-influenced number, while "Ad Libitum" is a instrumental, jazz-influenced piece, dominated by piano (played in the normal fashion).

Not exactly essential, but worth having if you're an avid Italian prog collector.

My rating: 3 1/2 stars

Their final works are the fourth works "Time Of Change" released in 1973. Classical, jazzy, extreme work. It is settled content to which energy, the technique, and the idea did the balance well. The piano of Joe Vescovi and Doraming of Furio Chirico finish being skilled, too. Work that multiuses keyboard, especially piano. The play of the piano is basically classical. Any tune is comprehensible, and the album that listens easily. The masterpiece of the album is "Phapsodia" of opening that makes Gershwin a theme. This masterpiece is still most wonderful though the short piece is also quite good. "Formula Nova" of a thrilling performance is also splendid. Work that has already reached a kind of free music. It is a masterpiece of Italian keyboard rock stepped forward in a direction different from EL&P.

Time of Change was a sort of presage for this curious Italian (?) band. Probably they did not mind it would have been their last one. The last of a serie of four records between 1970 and 1973, passing through the psychedelic movement before finding their identity in symphonic prog sound.

The band was then reduced to a trio and any guitar was missing. People probably think this is another keyboards based group a la LE ORME, but they would be wrong. Ok, they're actually a keyboards trio, but very far from that accomplished and famous formation. ELP, don't seem to be their unique and main source...they seem to have assimilated more than a YES' influence plus an evident jazzy vein.

Italian band I said, with a question mark. The history of The Trip does not start near the shore of the mediterranean sea. The band was formed in England and featured also a certain (young) Ritchie Blackmore. Soon they came to Italy where they had the opportunityto release their official debut in 1970. Some of the original members were gone, other italian musician came in (Wegg Andersen stayed, Joe Vescovi arrived). In 1971 they were already famous and influenced strongly the "borning" italian prog scene of that time.

The most remarkable thing of the album is the first track, actually a suite of 20 minutes long titled "Rhapsodia". A mix, as I said, of symphonic and jazz, well performed. Great drums played by Furio Chirico, one of the best italian drummers ever, next to be a member of Arti e Mestieri.

Lyrics are completely sung in english, as they used to do at that time, showing themselves as an international band. Rhapsodia flows well and gradually change into a swinged tempo. That's interesting but the tracks lacks of mordant and originality, I think.

The second track "Formula Nova" is a fast battle of drums, bass and keyboards againgainst each other. Good, but not particularly memorable. "De Sensibus" is more experimental track, with voices and cracking effects, with the addition of sparse percussions and triangle. "Corale" is an interesting track, with more classic influences and nice vocal effort (plus bells!). "Ad Libitum" goes on with the classic interludes with a little bit of jazz flavour in the final part. Joe Vescovi demonstrates here all his virtues on piano. No bass guitar, no drums. What a pity!

It seems the band were a littled bit confused at the time. Perhaps they were searching for new artistics ways. Probably I will never know what they wished to do but I thank them for what they gave us.

My rating: 3 - 3.5 stars, with regret. It could have been a memorable record!! For fans of italian symphonic prog, at least until the word "italian symphonic" has his autonomous dignity...

Despite this being Italian symphonic music (and therefore highly elaborated and full of interesting little tempo changes and shifts), the ELP and Yes influences are far too strong to ignore. Specifically the keyboard arrangements scream ELP, while the vocal cadences are ones quite familiar to one Mr. Jon Anderson.

If you can get beyond that, this is a decent album. The opening twenty minute “Rhapsodia” takes up more than half the record and is little more than a tribute by the band to their various better-known contemporaries. Imagine maybe something like a little ‘Manticore’ mixed with ‘Heart of the Sunrise’ and stretched way out with various keyboard-driven sidetracks interspersed throughout. You get the idea.

After that the rest of the album is sort of an anti-climax. There’s what appears to be a King Crimson tribute with “Formula Nova”, the spacey and slightly psych “De Sensibus”, and an underdeveloped attempt at grand symphonic rock with the very ELP-ish “Corale”. The album closes with some great piano on the otherwise unexceptional “Ad Libitum”.

This is a short review for a short album. “Rhapsodia” is recommended as long as you understand the heavy debt the band owes to those they used as inspiration when writing and recording it. The rest is standard symph fare of the period, neither poor nor exceptional. I believe this was the Trip’s last album, and it could have been much worse so at least the band kept up their standards even at the end. Three stars for a decent record, and mildly recommended.

peace

THE TRIP's final album is quite different from the previous one even if it is the same lineup.

The record starts off with a side long suite called "Phapsodia" clocking in at 20 minutes. Not the usual singer on this one and he sounds a lot like Jon Anderson, and because of that this does sound too much like YES at times. Sounds build as piano joins in. It kicks in before 2 minutes followed by a silent calm. Kicks back in again with organ and drums this time.The high pitched vocals arrive for he first time. When they stop the fat bass and pounding drums impress. Great section. Vocals are back at 10 minutes. We get a silly section after 13 1/2 minutes with vocals. Piano follows but i'm still not liking this (they must be ELP fans). It finally changes 18 minutes in but then this rhythm comes in late that is just bad.

"Formula Nova" opens with piano and drums as the bass joins in.This is an uptempo instrumental and a good one. "De Sensibus" is even better. My favourite track here. Church bells and blowing wind create some killer atmosphere. Very haunting to say the least. Whispers and percussion can also be heard. "Corale" opens with some great sounding bass and organ. It settles with vocals (the other singer from the last album). It picks up as contrasts continue. "Ad Libitum" is a piano dominated piece that's okay.

So very hit and miss for me, but an interesting listen. I like the previous album more, barely 3 stars.

I am not quite sure why this band is referenced into the RPI category.

Half of the members were of Saxon origins, their first two albums were good to very good psychedelic rock albums (sung in English); their third album showed some reminiscences from ELP but was a global fiasco and this one resembles as close to the Italian style than I would be a deep fan of karaoke evenings...

This being said, their prog angle is not to be discussed and in their last album, the accent is quite deep jazzy. The twenty minutes long "Rhapsodia" could have been an enjoyable song, but some instrumental parts, leading nowhere are somewhat ruining the atmosphere.

It is a mix of classical music, piano jazz entertainment, a bit of "Yes" and some "ELP" all together. But the whole cocktail is not top notch to say the least. At times, I just feel like sitting in the lobby of an international hotel and listening to a band that plays for the guests?not really my cup of tea.

What comes next is pure jazz-rock frenzy: "Formula Nova" is hermetic, instrumental, well played but totally out of my musical scope. Jazz-rock it is. And nothing else. At least, when a band was referenced under the ISP umbrella, one could easily identify the type of music which would be discovered. Within the RPI, one can get anything from the most brilliant and true Italian style to this sort of music.

Skilled musicians, probably; but short of ideas in term of song writing and leaning towards jazz maestria but nothing else; even if a fine symphonic mood is sketched in "Chorale". A bit mellow maybe, but my favourite out of this album. Just good though, no more.

The closing instrumental "Ad Libitum" is not going to change my mind about this very average album. My advice would be to stick to their first two albums (especially "Caronte") and leave the other two ones aside.

Not good it is. Two stars.

Accordingly to their members, The Trip, now reduced to a trio, had a lifetime experience in May 72' at the Villa Pamphili concert in Rome, performing in front of 80000 people.The band changed label the following year, now recording for Trident, and released the fourth album in as many years, under the title ''Time of Change''.

The album is undoubtfully highlighted by the sidelong 20-min. epic ''Rhapsodia'', a well-crafted composition with major YES, LE ORME and E.L.P. influences, highlighted by the complicated, almost jazzy drumming of Furio Chirico, the furious bass lines of Arvid Andersen and the incredible work of Joe Vescovi on keyboards.This track alternates rapidly between loose jazzy jams and tight Progressive Rock with huge Classical influences, offering plenty of organ, synths and piano textures, supported by excellent vocal work.The rest of the album is also good yet a bit uneven.''Formula nova'' is some sort of keyboard-driven Prog/Fusion, all instrumental and highly challenging, while ''De sensibus'' is pure Avant-Garde/Experimental music, featuring percussion, cymbals, synths and wordless screams.''Corale'' is a beautiful laid-back symphonic ballad with church organ and bass on the forefront along with the romantic vocal lines of Andersen and the closing ''Ad libitum'' is a piano solo by Vescovi with evident Classical and Jazz inspirations.

The next year Chirico formed Arti E Mestieri and Andresen had a serious road accident, which propably marked the end of The Trip.More than three decades later the band was revived with the legendary Andersen-Chirico-Vescovi line-up, performing live concerts, but sadly came to an end in the spring of 2012 after the death of Andersen.

The last studio contribution of The Trip is energetic keyboard-led Progressive Rock with an obvious leaning towards more Fusion realms and comes as another nice contribution of one of the earlier Italian Prog bands in the proggy paths.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.

"Time Of Change" is the fourth studio album by The Trip and was released in 1973 on the independent Trident label with a confirmed line up featuring Joe Vescovi (keyboards, vocals), Arvid "Wegg" Andersen (bass, vocals) and Furio Chirico (drums, percussion). The overall sound is characterized by stronger classical and jazz influences than in the past and there's more room for solo piano passages and acoustic moments...

The opener "Rhapsodia" is a long, complex and fragmented track that fills all the first side of the LP. According to wikipedia, a rhapsody in music is a "one-movement work that is episodic yet integrated, free-flowing in structure, featuring a range of highly contrasted moods, colour, and tonality. An air of spontaneous inspiration and a sense of improvisation make it freer in form than a set of variations"... This description, in my opinion, perfectly fits this piece where the music and lyrics evoke dreamy landscapes and infinite skies. Here you can set your imagination free and take off for a flight in a perpetual, timeless motion, dancing along the sounds coming from a distant town. You're close to the edge and nobody can catch you in your playful illusion... Well, probably the colourful art cover can describe the content of this long track better than all my words.

The lively instrumental "Formula nova" (New formula) opens the second side of the LP and could recall Emerson, Lake & Palmer. It begins by a jazzy incipit with the piano in the forefront and frenzied bass lines, then, after a drum break, the organ takes over leading to a pyrotechnic finale... Next comes another instrumental track, "De sensibus" (the title, in Latin, means "about the senses") that starts by the sound of church bells and powerful drum rolls and features a disquieting atmosphere with a particular ethnic flavour and a great percussion work...

The following "Corale" (Chorale) brings an almost liturgical atmosphere dominated by a church-like organ and strong classical influences. In fact, the title refers to several related musical forms originating in the music genre of the Lutheran chorale while the music and lyrics invite you to break free from the jail of a meaningless life and look up for joy and peace... Then the instrumental "Ad libitum" closes the album. It's a piece for piano solo where Joe Vescovi seems just exploring the possibilities of the instrument going from classical to jazz, from blues to ragtime...

After "Time Of Change" drummer Furio Chirico left to form Arti & Mestieri while the others tried to get on with the help of Osage Tribe's drummer Nunzio Favia. Unfortunately, the band gave up some months later, when Andersen was injured in an accident. Joe Vescovi then joined Acqua Fragile for a short time at the end of 1974 and later both he and Favia joined Dik Dik. As a consequence, The Trip and their music went under the radar for a very long time... Until 2010! But this is another story...