QUELLA VECCHIA LOCANDA

The first of only two studio albums from Quella Vecchia Locanda, this eponymous debut released in 1972 is rightly regarded as a highly important album in the RPI genre. Their second album, Il Tempo Della Gioia would take them into mellower territory, expanding on the classical influences already on display here. Their debut however is to a large extent a more bombastic affair with a rawer sound, yet still displaying moments of finesse and beauty.

Alongside the classical influences is a band playing powerful early seventies prog on the rocky side, sometimes reminiscent of early Jethro Tull; I'd be very surprised to hear if they weren't an influence. To reinforce the Tull vibe is the use of flute to great effect. Equally important to their sound is the exciting violin playing, ranging from the sublime like on Sogno, Risveglio E... to wilder moments perfectly captured in album opener Prologo. A solid, though not complex rhythm section lays the foundations for this alongside some impressive keyboard work to please mellotron, moog and piano lovers. Electric guitar, again has a Tull vibe at times as well as some tasteful acoustic playing and Giorgio Giorgi is a very good vocalist displaying a powerful and melodic voice capable of subtle restraint like on the folk inflected Realta.

It's a fairly short album at only 34 minutes, the eight compositions all between the three to five minute mark, but surprisingly with such short pieces they still find the space for dynamic instrumental workouts which do tend to take precedence over the vocals. The melodic nature of the material here makes it a very accessible album, an ideal early entry into discovering the vast world of Italian Progressive rock.