IL PAESE DEI BALOCCHI

This is a real gem for most people who are interested in top quality Italian progressive rock records from the 1970's. The album has a unique sound, a bit psychedelic, gothic maybe, but is on the other hand a 100% symphonic rock recording. The album showcases an interesting combination of ELP-like rock (the first notes on the album are very Tarkus- influenced), more mellow rock like Camel, classic passages which seem to be heavily influenced by baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi (one track seems sounds like a lost Vivaldi composition, but according to the credits it must be a band composition), and the whole album has a sort of mystery over it, which is underscored by the fantastic and once again unique artwork: the cover is a sort of patchwork art, and on the inside there is a sort of abstract painting, and dreamy black and white photographs of the band members, streets, alleys etc. The music is dreamlike, but also with heavy outbursts. The music is sometimes very harmonic, sometimes ... not at all. The compositions are all top notch, though you may have to have some patience to really appreciate them. The cd version ends with 2 hitsingles (or attempts to ~), popsongs, but what makes the album so special is that everything, the ELP, psychedelic, Vivaldi, pop and other influences all can stand next to each other, and it all sounds very good. Nothing sounds out of place. Without any doubt the album is a hidden classic. The standout track that makes the record worthwile on it's own, is " Evasione", a very mellow track with a sort of minimal melody, which is augmented with all kinds of effects. The track gives you the sensation of floating over a wide landscape. Classic stuff.