UNO

An early progressive Italian work, Panna Fredda's sole release is something of a product of the time - a great rock band that wears its late 60's influences with pride, and is unafraid to take a few chances. At times heavy on the psychedelia, at other times just plain heavy, it has an occasional proto-prog vibe, much less typical than the RPI to come.

The opener, La Paura, is a sinister, psychedelic rocker with mesmerizing Hammond and a mean rhythm around the four minute mark. This one really makes me grin, one of two personal favorites on the album. Followed by Un Re Senza Reame, which starts of somewhat playfully before the organ leads us to the vocals; much more laid back until the final minute's tight closure. Un Uomo, with its deep male choir and contrasting dramatic organ flourishes, grooves nicely mid-way with the keys and bass.

Scacco Al Re Lot, my other favorite, is the most original of the bunch - somewhat more complex with quite a few style shifts in a few short minutes. There's a lot of variety here, and feels more traditionally RPI than the other tracks. Il Vento is the longest, most experimental piece with a hint of Baroque, but the repetitive harpsichord really grates on me; this one overstays its welcome. Panna closes with Waiting which, despite its spacey opening, rounds out the album as a good, albeit brief instrumental rocker with a couple of cool tempo changes and a wild finish.

Take away Il Vento and you have a very solid 24 minutes of music that is, without a doubt, historically important to the genre. This one averages out to 3.5 stars for me, definitely worth checking out for progressive Italian enthusiasts and fans of early, heavier psychedelic rock.