BACIATI DALL'INGANNO

Traipsing through Andrea Parentin's RPI blog I stumbled upon the most wonderful new band, Vuoti a Rendere. They released their debut album this summer entitled "Baciati dall'Inganno" (Kissed By Deception) and I was initially drawn in by the grey yet playful album art.

When thinking about who they might sound like, the first bands that popped into my head were Ornithos, and LaGartija, bands which enjoyed doing long instrumental passages that often employed saxophone as a featured instrument. Still they seem more intent on rock than jazz and on mood more than intricate structures of symphonic grandeur. Spidery guitar leads that sounded like soundtracks to 60s spy thrillers careen with long piano passages of pure Italian melancholy, occasional dramatic Italian vocals, and finally to sweaty workouts of saxophone, guitars, keys and drum. The ingredients are pretty basic here and the production understated. But the result was exhilarating to me because I love bands who exude unbridled enthusiasm for playing, who make you feel their discovery of the freedom of jamming like you were in the room.

The album reminds me immediately of my favorite kind of 1970s RPI, the lesser-known groups not trying to mimic English Symphonic progressive rock, but rather putting their own hometown flavor on jamming and creativity. Who manage to somehow wrap sadness and joy in the same strand, who can take a piano passage like the fantastic "Osservati dalla Minaccia dei Pensieri" (Watched by the Threat of Thoughts) and bend it to will, spooky one moment, divine the next. Subtle guitar dances behind the keys, dramatic results, memorable passages that linger with you. Soon the piano becomes near frantic as spoken word comes. Seven minutes that would thrill Krieger and Manzarek I do believe. A vibe of sullen mood and mystery around the edges. While certainly not an essential recording for every RPI collection, this is a very respectable debut with flashes of brilliance and obvious potential. I recommend them without reservation to my friends who love the grittier side. 7/10.

A personal thanks to Raffaela Berry for providing me translation and giving me insight into the lyrical notions of the album.