SPETTRI

Gli Spettri were formed in 1964 in Florence by brothers Ugo and Raffaele Ponticiello on vocals and guitars respectively along with bassist Giuliano Giunti and drummer Ubaldo Palanti, replaced later by Mauro Sarti, future drummer of Campo Di Marte and Bella Band.They had a few singles out around mid-60's, evolving slowly from a Beat to a Hard Rock band.By 1968 the line-up included Giorgio Di Ruvo and a couple of years later keyboardist Stefano Meloni and bassist Vincenzo Ponticiello enter the scene.In 1970 they started working on an ambitious long Hard Rock suite, finished in 1971 and recorded the next year.This work never got an issue, only released 40 years later by the team of Black Widow Records as a self-titled album.

''Spettri'' is a 39-min. long Hard Prog epic piece, divided in four movements, where the Hard Rock influences of the group come in evidence with strong vibes from DEEP PURPLE and even plagiarizing the style of LED ZEPPELIN in the guitar parts, nevertheless this is an interesting and highly energetic epic track with guitars and organ in the forefront.The whole piece is based on Ugo Ponticiello's poetic lyrics with fiery grooves from guitars and keyboards, sometimes entering more complex realms akin to MUSEO ROSENBACH minus the symphonic influences, while there are still some certain psychedelic overtones around.The long parts eventually lead the band to intense psychedelic jams with sharp organ fanfares and the rhythm section in great shape in an attempt to combine the emerging fundamentals of a more complicated Rock music with old-styled atmospheres.The tracks contain some great breaks and even smooth passages with lyrical moments in a storytelling mood, bursting usually into organ-driven Heavy/Hard Rock with endless solos.The longest movement ''Essere'' seems to be the most interesting as well with impressive organ work, calmer vocal parts and complex themes.

Informations say that Spettri kept playing, even if failing to release this work on time, while changing their musical style until their demise, propably sometime during the 70's.

Powerful, bombastic, old-school Hard Prog/Rock with thematic variations and solid performances.Not very diverse, but certainly well-played and enjoyable music.Recommended.