COLLAGE

A bold entry into the prog scene for Le Orme sees the band in a dramatic mood, with Tony Pagliuca's Emerson-influenced keyboards on the opening track delivering a powerful statement of intent. Tagliapietra's vocals are hauntingly beautiful and seem at several points to threaten to burst forth into full-on opera, and the psych-influenced songwriting adds a bit of emotional warmth to the album just where it's needed. Though it's hardly the best album Le Orme would produce, it's an extremely strong beginning to the prog rock phase of their career and a great early work from the Italian scene, the band forging ahead into the new RPI territory and opening the door for a number of other acts.

In particular, the group's romantic and dramatic approach - influenced no doubt by the likes of Genesis and Van der Graaf Generator, both of whom got a huge welcome in Italy at the time - would influence the direction of many groups to come, such as Banco and PFM. Not just a great album, but a key one for understanding the development of the Italian scene - that sounds like a four star job to me.