NEW TROLLS

The New Trolls had a prodigious output between 1967 and 1970-twelve singles were released with only Signore Io Sono Irish appearing on an album. This, their second album from 1970 is a collection of diverse stuff, the material here covers things released on 7" from their first single to right before their release of the seminal Concerto Grosso per I New Trolls album in 1971.

Although many will point you to their debut album collaboration with Fabrizio deAndre as the early one to get, this album will satisfy the prog fan a little more tangibly, as the elements of what became their distinctive sound are scattered heavily throughout: self written and self played material with strong melodies, excellent harmonies, searing guitar work, strident and powerful hard rock lead vocals that would make you turn your head in a crowded bar to say 'what was that?'. Arrangements start to get more complex and hints of what is to come from this band are becoming more evident.

From the opening song Una Miniera, a string driven ballad that hints at symphonic prog to come from more familiar Italian bands, (about a 1956 mining disaster in Belgium that killed 130 Italian miners) there is a strong melodic core to their work. Melancholic in the vein of some early Procol Harum, but not overwrought. The strings abate for a quick three second rock finale. Second song Cosa Pensiamo dell'Amore buzzes along in a lurching rhythm that is one of the stronger proto prog songs here-space is given for organ, drums bass and guitar to get playful before we are ushered out with a coda tribute to A Whiter Shade of Pale. Lei Mi Diceva starts off like a manic Monkees riff before quickly settling into a hybrid early Uriah Heep/Aphrodites Child bubbling bass propelled burst-nimbly played. Bassist Giorgio D'Adamo is a monster on much of the album. The much maligned Quella Musica follows, a syrupy ballad that most would pass by quickly until....halfway through the song it stops and transitions to a wordless vocal jam reminiscent of 1967-68 Beatles, complete with burning extended guitar solo and a some barely audible yelling and histrionic vocals just underneath the main vocal, subliminally setting an air of barely controlled chaos--urging the proceedings forward, nearly imperceptible, but it puts this into 'truly an anthem' category. Very subtle but effective trick. Great song in the long run with a fascinating brittle drum sound throughout the beginning. More early Deep Purple circa 1968 comes in on the raucous Corro Da Te, the B side of the single Una Nuvola Bianco. Hendrix influenced in elements. Side one comes to an end with their debut single, Sensazioni, that despite its 1967 trappings is powerful and very catchy. Odd that one of the better songs on the album is from that far back. Elements of Gloria by Them launch the song along until a Gentle Giant a capella section drops in out of nowhere. The song goes back to its theme and jams until the too soon ending. Overall, side one holds together pretty well and is much better than one would expect for a collection of late 60's singles.

The sounds of a forgotten dripping cavern being pried open starts side two: a little bit of Beck's Bolero and later Yardbirds powers the sound of the side opener, the aforementioned Una Novola Bianca where the band is sounding increasingly assured of what they can do in a studio and how they can write an arrangement that starts to deviate from the traditional pop song. Song two also opens with a trippy soundscape before Annalisa takes off in a crashing dizzying climb before the song gives way to an acoustic guitar driven power ballad, a radio friendly unit shifter that just can't help dipping back into some more prog sounding areas. Dances nicely between proto prog and pop within the same song comfortably. The same can't be said for Un'Ora, one of the throw aways on here-an overwrought string powered sappy ballad designed to please the suits at the label. Io Che Ho Te is more in a Beatle-ish vein with faux mellotron from the strings and winds but is another one that is a disposable string driven ballad. Visioni brings us back with heavy organ and psych guitar leading to another one of the catchier songs on this album-you will find yourself singing along with this one rather quickly. Very psychedelic pop sounding but a great song. This leads to the finale, the even catchier Davanti Agli Occhi Miei leads the call with a dervish guitar riff and vocal response that should have been a huge hit across Europe-this one you definitely will be singing in your head in traffic. Not prog but just a great rock anthem.

HInts of Vanilla Fudge, Deep Purple, early Traffic, late Yardbirds and some 1967-1968 Pink Floyd are in here-so do not expect a full on prog experience, this is the sound of a band in transition from formulaic pop to some more adventurous territory.

In the end, this is marred by only two clunkers on side two. Valuable as a window into the power of quickly evolving Italian pop scene, and for people who are really into New Trolls. For fans of RPI that have a soft spot for that late 60's early 70's transition from psych to prog sound. For more traditional RPI and prog fans, this is probably non essential. Me? Loved it from front to back. Was lucky to recently run into original first pressings from Italy of this and the first album on Cetra for semi reasonable prices-antique treasures!

3.25 stars for RPI fans. 2.5 stars for proto prog heads.