Obscure/Lesser Known Gems

With a two long car journeys and a half decent hifi system available last weekend, I had planned to listen to a dozen new albums but instead, I spent most time listening to Elephant9's 'Walk The Nile' quite a few times and with great pleasure.

Their 2008 'Dodovoodoo' delightfully borrowed from and skated all over the early jazz rock scene. From the handful of critics who bothered to write, a list of a dozen or so early influences were to be found across the resulting reviews. 'Walk The Nile' is more focussed. This is largely Hammond and or overdriven electric piano led music, which with its thrashing drumming results in what at first sounds like good old fashioned jazz rock but with something of the 21st century, that is difficult to nail. I tend to go along with Elephant9's label, Rune Grammofon's blurb wrt the citing and parallelling with the original Tony Williams Lifetime, although I would go further saying this recording has echoes of the Jack Bruce edition of the 'Turn It Over' period, especially with its dirty deep down thudding bass. But it is not a copy: the drumming as suggested, deliberately lacks the precision of the late Tony Williams so creating some of the degrees of separation. And whilst the Lifetime thing is more obvious in the shorter high speed tunes, the long slower tracks suggest psychedelia, such as the title track.

An album of high energy music, (and in view of my initial hearing, certainly drive time music), which I need a little time before deciding if this is going to impact on me to the same extent as Elephant9's first - my favourite album of 2008. But it is the best I've heard of its type this year.

I'm sure for fans of Italian prog one of the highlights of 2010 will be the reformation of Raccomandata con Ricevuta di Ritorno. Luciano Regoli, now a successful and talented artist has put down his paint brushes long enough to write and record Il Pittore Volante with some past RRR members and some stellar guests including Claudio Simonetti (Goblin) and Lino Vairetti (Osanna). RRR, like many bands in the seventies Italian prog movement only managed to release one album before splitting and here comes number two thirty eight years later! What a return though! Il Pittore Volante is a superb album and no doubt destined to be one of my favourites of the year, even at this early stage.

Whilst looking back to the glory days of RPI in the seventies Il Pittore Volante keeps one foot in the present with a stunning and diverse blend of symphonic prog, heavy rock, blues, folk and jazz. The album is brilliantly executed from the first rate cast and Regoli's singing is excellent.

Il Cambiamento, a mid paced rocker makes a fantastic opener with its Led Zeppelin style groove until Walter Martino lets loose with some dextrous drum fills towards the end. Il Vecchio is more restrained, starting with jazz piano, it features some lovely violin and has a melancholic and haunting vibe for the most part. Il Fuoco is a beautiful ballad featuring acoustic guitar and lovely female vocal parts courtesy of Cristina Cioni alongside Regoli.

Classical guitar introduces Eagle Mountain before turning into a fairly straightforward rock track with some searing electric guitar work from Nanni Civitenga. Mid song it totally changes tack; drums dropping out and acoustic guitar returning for this lovely melancholic part with more excellent Gilmour-esque soloing. Wonderful stuff indeed! Continuing in this vibe is the beautiful La Mente which features some fine sax playing. The reverse of Eagle Mountain, it picks up pace mid song, powerful bass and drums driving it along overlaid with some wild dissonant sax.

Hammond organ takes a front seat on L'Uomo Nuovo which is more in the symphonic vein. A keyboard led instrumental workout also features some obligatory flute giving it a Jethro Tull vibe. One thing that's worth mentioning about the whole album is the strength of the melodies which while often sublime are always first rate. Le Anime has a bluesy vibe, yet in keeping with proceedings has a few surprises up its proverbial sleeve. Raoul is a bit unexpected, being a rocker with a kind of ZZ Top style guitar riff. Another twist has the tempo halving and there's more excellent guitar work. The acoustic La Spiaggia closes in fine style in restrained fashion.

Many bands reform, often for the wrong reasons, but few make such a triumphant return as RRR. I can't recommend Il Pittore Volante highly enough. This album is essential listening for RPI fans and highly recommended to everyone else.