QUELLI (PRE-PFM)

The record "I Quelli" is an album of a band that later becomes the marvelous Premiata Forneria Marconi. It was released back in the happy psychadelic sixties, 1969 and we se a cover with five members in a frame of red and black. And it features at least two musicians from later PFM: Franz di Cioccio on drums and Franco Mussida on guitar. The others are Pino Favarolo on guitar, Tony Gesualdi on bass, Teo Teocoli on voice, Alberto Radius on guitar and voice and Giorgio Piazza on bass.

The album contains twelve short songs which almost all is rather pleasant to hear. It's sweat with this light pop in Italian with some psych flavors and also some interesting instrumentation that goes beyond the very common rock theme. Many of the songs are covers and those are the least interesting tracks. Deep Purple's "Hush" for example is quite correct played but the vocals aren't great. That song is better covered by Swedish Tommy Körberg at the same time for example. But many songs here are nice and fine and prove it's an interesting band playing here. I also like the pure rock sound from these early days. "Dici", "Marilù", "Lacrime E Pioggia", "Tornare Bambino", "Pensieri" and "Sigillato Con Un Bacio" is worth hearing and I liked what I was exposed to(6/10). Other songs like "Nucole Gialle", "Mi Sentivo Strano", "Hush" and "Questa Città Senza" was OK and quite enjoyable light pop(5/10).

Two tracks were though rather annoying. "15 Anni"(3/10) and "Hip Hip Hurrà"(4/10) wasn't good at all in my ears.

Finally I must say this is a safe record it is a big chance you like because the sound of these early days is very accessible. But please don't compare this to Premiata Forneria Marconi. I would be totally pointless. This is one form of music(not exactly RPI) and PFM is another. Three weak stars.