DNA

Singer Alvaro Fella of Jumbo has a voice that can only be described as guttural, off-putting, and visceral. But these superficial qualities are made up for in spades with sheer emotion and passion in his vocal delivery. While Jumbo's debut album (released only a few months earlier) was essentially a solo album, Fella leads the group on DNA and they manage to create a near masterpiece of Italian Progressive Rock. These strides would only continue on the perfect Vietato Di Minori Di 18 Anni, but DNA is the more accessible of the two and a good starting point for this band.

The side-long "Suite Per Il Sig. K" may well be Jumbo's finest accomplishment. Though it is not a showy exercise or even progressive in the literal sense of the term, "Suite Per Il Sig. K" reveals a unique talent...one not afraid to tip a hat to their contemporaries, but forge a singular path as well. Jumbo's heavy, bluesy sound will delight fans of Led Zeppelin and The Doors as much as Genesis and Jethro Tull. This broad appeal enamors the listener to them, even if the vocals are a little distracting at first. By the end, a gentle stanza expressed wonderfully by Fella will reward those curious enough to stick around and see what Jumbo is all about. "Miss Rand" is more straightforward, and the piano so dominant in "Suite" is appended by organ. Fella again takes the driver's seat, and a ragtime free-for-all ensues. "E' Brutto Sentirsi Vecchi" is the strongest song on side 2, and will foreshadow the sound yet to appear on Jumbo's next album. A slow ballad gradually builds, then ends with a whimper - the finest moment on the album for sure.

"Hai Visto..." sees Fella get out of the way, allowing the group to explore some jazzier elements and just play without having to support a vocal. A repeat of the theme from "Suite Per Il Sig. K" bookends the album neatly, and creates an exit strategy. It also creates a sense of unfinished business, as the acoustic guitar stops abruptly without a feeling of closure. This open-ended nature of DNA makes me only want one thing...to play it again. Four stars.