UN BIGLIETTO DEL TRAM

Of the original RIO-chart signataires, Stormy Six was the one that was least RIO sounding and longest living band. Most likely their inclusion was probably due to a strong left-wing tendencies as well as pure aesthetics. Indeed the group had started out as a folk group back in 69 with a pop singer Rocchi in their ranks, but by the present Biglietto (their fourth album), they'd managed to throw away all sorts of commercial temptations, while keeping their folk orientations and even growing increasingly experimental, even spoofing CS&N in their second album in a lengthy track.

By the time of this album (Ticket for the tram), the group's folk was mixed in with some early jazz, but taken another strong left-wing twist with Umberto Fiori's arrival in SS at the texts . Their nine shorter songs (from 3:45 to 6 mins) all had some light avant-garde feel, but nothing remotely close to their future RIO co-signataires. Mostly acoustic with a trio of guitar/mandolin players and a violinist over a mandolin- playing stand-up bassist and drummer, the group's composition are a very even batch of folk tunes with none standing out, leaving very few space for real instrumental interplay, other than in the inevitable jig (the track Gianfranco Mattei). The lyrics are inevitably political, often referring to ancient political leaders and historical situations, and therefore often the folk tends to veer a bit tarantella, but never too overtly. Indeed SS plays the modern card despite being mainly acoustic, at least for now.

Some progheads might consider this album a must and one of SS' peaks, but I beg to differ. In terms of political relevance, I'll take early Area albums (even if my Italian is barely above the discernible level) ; and in terms of inventive folk, I'll choose the Canzoniere Del Lazio combo over this Biglietto. If you're not familiar to SS, try to start elsewhere, either chronologically from the debut or the RIO period first and then come back to such an album if you still wish it.