COLLAGE

"Collage" was Orme's contribution to the beginning of the serious RPI wave to come over the next several years. Their first album was more psych-pop flavored and less sophisticated. Here they raised the stakes significantly after being exposed to progressive rock and realizing the direction things were heading. Some feel "Collage" is the first RPI album although there were certainly many other quality recordings from this period that share the distinction. By '71 there were fine albums out there by Mucchio, Giganti, Jacula, Buon Vecchio Charlie, Panna Fredda, and New Trolls to name a few. Orme's was perhaps the most polished in some ways but I'm not sure it's necessarily better than the others. They do get the distinction of being the first of the "Big 3" to get a decent album out which is probably why many consider this the first. Comparing their development to their English counterparts "Collage" is somewhere in the realm of "Time and a Word/Yes Album" and "Trespass" but not nearly as good as "Fragile" or "Nursery Cryme."

The middle of "Collage" is the most memorable to me beginning with the gorgeous "Sguardo verso il cielo." Such a majestic keyboard opening leading to those legendary vocals of Aldo. He is one of the warmest, smoothest, and most romantic of the Italian vocalists which is saying a lot. He blends a somewhat melancholic feeling with a sweetness that is very comforting. His tone simply relaxes the listener, perhaps too much for those RPI fans who feel Orme is a bit "safe" for their taste. Towards the end the acoustic guitars come in with heavenly melody, but the problem here is that the track peeters out too soon, before it can reach fruition. In that sense Yes were further ahead with things like "Starship Trooper" certainly feeling complete to me. So Orme's songwriting was one step behind but the performance certainly was not. The album sounds fantastic and the great keys and wondrous vocals are supported by a tight, crisp rhythm section. That track is surrounded by the two longer jams which feature good organ and bass exploration and which rock convincingly, "Evasione" even featuring a very spacey "Doors" vibe. "Collage" shows tons of promise and will please fans of the early RPI movement, but never for a second does it feel like anything beyond 3.0 stars to this RPI nut.

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