IL TEMPO DELLA GIOIA

Two-shot band Quella Vecchia Locanda's albums are both of high quality, although quite different in style. Their eponymous debut album is perhaps somewhat more derivative of English influences than II Tempo della Gioia, but is of a more consistant level of quality. The one element of this band's first album that stands out as unusual to me is the violin of American Donald Lax. He is part folk fiddler, part classically trained violinist, and part improvisational rock musician. The band continuously flits from a rustic Baroque aesthetic to straight seventies' rock to early Jethro Tull, and Lax's violin is key to making the transitions seem as natural as they do.

The other strength of this album is its consistency. There is not a bad track on here, although at under 35 minutes, this is not as difficult as it might otherwise be. The band plays all songs with great vitality. Even the Cream-inspired ballad Realtà has a portentous intensity to it. This is a band who was playing music for the joy of it, and so even when the songwriting was not quite up to scratch, the band had the self-belief to carry the piece through.

Studded with violin, flute and driving guitar riffs, this is an album whose delivery is its biggest asset. Never overly polished, QVL have not forgotten their rock 'n' roll roots, while still being progressive with instrumentation and arrangements. Il Tempo della Gioia has at times better songwriting, but for its consistency of vision and naive enthusiasm, the debut album is superior.

SO I GIVE IT A 5.0!