SENZA ORARIO, SENZA BANDIERA

While NEW TROLLS isn't considered one of the greatest progressive rock bands that flourished in the 1970s, the band certainly was one of the first and built the early foundations that all those masters of the trade could improve upon a few years down the road. Although the band is best known for its classic "Concerto Grosso Per I New Trolls" which was like a lightning bolt for the Italian prog scene as it was playing catch up to the English bands like Yes, ELP and Genesis, the band formed by vocalist and guitarist Vittorio de Scalzi, vocalist and guitarist Nico Di Palo, keyboardist Mauro Chiarugi, bassist Giorgio D'Adamo and drummer Gianni Belleno got its start as early as 1967 in Genoa. This is probably the most dramatic band of the entire Italian scene playing out like a soap opera with hostility between band members resulting in law suits and ultimately a split into two groups: New Trolls Atomic System and Ibis.

Named after the fact one of the members had been in a band simply called I Trolls, this updated version proved to be innovative enough from its very beginning stages and even opened for The Rolling Stones on their 1967 tour based on the release of a mere single called "Senzioni." The band released its first album SENZA ORARIO, SENZA BANDIERA (No Time, No Flag) in 1968 which is considered to be the first Italian rock concept album forged by the poetry of Richard Mannerini and then reworked by the Italian singer / songwriter Fabrizio De André which crafted a single themed album where all the tracks ran together much like progressive rock albums that would follow. The music was written by Di Palo and De Scalzi with the exception of the track "Signore, io sono Irish" by Gian Piero Reverberi. Despite this being a concept album, i'm still not really sure what the concept is supposed to be about!

Given the album was released in 1968, SENZA ORARIO, SENZA BANDIERA was still far from the symphonic prog classical powerhouse that the band would release in 1971. This debut was still rooted in 60s beat music with psychedelic overtones such as the Hendrix inspired guitar sounds of Nico di Palo who would soon become one of Italy's most popular guitar heroes. Despite the 60s connections, NEW TROLLS was definitely innovating the beat pop music by offering symphonic elements even as early as this debut album with busy keyboard contributions orchestrating a classical-tinged backdrop and likewise the band was displaying the romantic vocal style that would become the staple of classic Italian prog in the 70s. The entire band contributed vocals and crafted some tight harmonies as well. Despite the progressive pop tendencies, the compositions themselves weren't very complex and based on the bluesy beat hooks that were popular during the era.

This is a rather mellow album that despite some sort of concept that will be decipherable by speakers of Italian pretty much flows from beginning to end like a very very long orchestrated pop song. The album is less than 27 minutes so it's not excessively long lasting but the musical ideas are fairly sparse with only the nascent prog ideas sprouting. The album comes across as Italy's answer to The Moody Blues' "Days Of Future Passed" only without the interesting compositions that take it anywhere exciting. The album is actually a bit boring as it seems like the same acoustic guitar strumming and music motif is extended throughout the entire album's run. Various moments do offer contrast but generally speaking, the musical flow is a bit of a one tricky pony and gets monotonous fairly quickly, a stark contrast to where NEW TROLLS would take its music just a few short years down the road. Sure it's a classic for planting the proper seeds in Italy's fertile music scene but as an interesting album in its own right it's just not very captivating.

2.5 rounded down