SEARCHING FOR A LAND

I found this to be a rather enjoyable album. It certainly shows plainly the riff between Vittorio De Scalzi and Nico Di Palo which came to a head on their next effort, UT (causing them to split up and legal wrangling which caused De Palo faction to eventually be called Ibis and De Scalzi wondering if he could continue with the New Trolls name or not, using the N.T. Atomic System name in the process).

This is truly a split album, a studio album of mellow, largely acoustic prog rock, and a totally heavy live album that's totally in your face! The band brought in Frank Laugelli, and Marizio Salvi. "Searching" and "Percival" are great examples of the acoustic side of New Trolls. "In St. Peter's Day" is more classically-influenced and it shows with Maurizio Salvi giving what sounds like a Mellotron, but I believe it's an Eminent 310 (which he definitely used on their next album UT). "A Land to Live, A Land to Die" is a nice bluesy piece with synth and Hammond organ. There's a short acoustic guitar interlude which leads to "To Edith". This piece reminds me of Led Zeppelin circa Led Zeppelin II, even Di Palo is trying his best Robert Plant imitation, but as you notice he don't quite get those high notes as well as Plant.

Now I really think the live album is totally fantastic. I actually didn't find the audience cheering distracting, but I do get a kick that the cheering is perhaps the most overenthusiastic I have ever heard on an album (it also sounds like it was recorded in a small venue, not some arena or stadium). It is really raw, aggressive, and in your face! "Intro" is an instrumental jazzy piece. "Bright Lights" really cracks me up. I mean, how high pitched of vocals are Nico Di Palo trying to hit? Mariah Carey high? Not quite, but the song really cracks me up. I really love the in your face intensity, and that synth solo from Salvi. "Muddy Madalein" sounds remarkably like Deep Purple meeting Jethro Tull, as if Ian Anderson joined Purple Mk II. "Lying Here" is in more proggy territory, extended use of organ, with some Emerson-like Hammond organ, and some Hendrix-like tricks on guitar. I love the live half, it's '70s excess in all its glory (screaming high pitched vocals, extended solos, and all the hallmarks of '70s hard rock and heavy metal).

I own the original Cetra LP which comes with a flap that folds up on the top which houses both discs.

I can see how this album gets a bit ignored being sandwiched between Concerto Grosso per 1 and UT, which are both considered superior musically, and it could seem to many as uneven considering the length, but I enjoy the album and no matter how you feel of the whole album, it still has enough good to great material making it worth having.