STORIE DI UOMINI E NON

This four-piece band from Italy is really great musically even though they only produced one album in the seventies and reunited in 1979 for a commercial release. The opening track "L'Ultima Spiasggia" (13:15) is really wonderful with its jaz-rock orientated style maximizing the talented musicians to perform their own instruments from alto sax, baritone sax, clarino, electric guitar, flute, "Fender" bass, trombone, and drums. Not in typical any band where each musician focuses only on one intruments with its similar instrument - this band, like Gentle Giant, plays multi instruments. Look at how Rocky Rossi plays alto sax, baritone sax, clarino, and at the same time take a voice role. Roby Glabrovitz who plays electric guitar, has the capability to play flute, while Luigi Ventura plays "Fender" bass and trombone. It's quite unusual really. The opening track has many style and tempo changes across the span of 13 minute duration of wonderfully crafted composition. \the vocal is raw but unique and it fits with the overall tone of the song as well as the album. The bass guitar solo sometimes reminds me to the Jethro Tull's "Boree" even though they are not alike. The guitar solo is also stunning. All ini all this is a masterpiece track of this album!

"Il Soldato" (6:17) starts off with a bass guitar solo follwed with melodic vocal with guitar fills. I can hear the sound of violin but actually there is no violin used right here in this record. The song moves slowly in dark mood with good guitar fills. The brass section sounds like a big band. "E" (3:57) brings the music back into energy with very nice opening part that combines all instruments performed in relatively fast speed. the alto sax solo is really nice especially when it's combined with a rocking guitar work. The bass guitar work is really solid and it moves dynamically throughout the song. There are many style and tempo changes throughout the span of roughly 4 minute duration. It's an excellent track!

"Io Robot" (7:41) brings to music into melodic and mellow style with accentuated vocal line. It's melodically a good track. It moves into crescendo when the vocal at first part finish to sing and it brings the music into a dynamic composition leaning itself into solid basslines. I admire that the bass guitar players is really a very talented musician. It gives good rhythm for a solo sax in a style that reminds me to King Crimson's "Islands" album. The flute work is also great. "Martino" (5:41) concludes the album in the same dynamic as the opening track only with shorter duration. But the music is really great with some style changes and tempo changes througout the song. The guitar solo is also stunning especially during the accentuated vocal line. What a great composition really!

Overall, this is a wonderfully crafted album with its unique jazz-rock orientated style combined with great musicianship in every single instrument they use. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED especially for those of you who love jazz-rock kind of music. Keep on proggin' ...!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW