COLLAGE

The Hammond starts. Full reverb. Thick bass, kind vocals and some of the best drumming I have heard in ANY band. So starts Collage! I have found a killer album. While mostly instrumental (meaning not alot of singing), I enjoy the "dated" swampy production along with the search in style. It always makes for the best listening than contrived meandering.

"Collage", the opener, is a sweet and pompous instrumental. Like an anthem of sorts. Hammond, RMI piano/harpsichord, trumpets with driving drums.

"Era Inverno" has chiming guitars, more great drumming, and some poppy organ.

"Cemento Armato" is another romp, with beautiful piano, great crescendo, features jamming and trade-offs between bass and organ as well as Michi's powerful pounding. Aldo's vocals, while a bit weak in delivery, are very potent and sincere.

"Sguardo Verso Il Cielo"... another varied rocker with more powerful drums and blaring organ. Michi is amazing.

"Evasione Totale" is a great instrumental and more crescendo style jamming. Enjoy.

"Immagini" is a church-ish organ based tune with one vocal... and ethereal.

"Morte di un fiore"... meh... it's ok. It's the pop filler/closer.

Aldo is a very talented guitarist and bassist. Even more so than bands like ELP, who this band sounds absolutely 100% NOTHING like.

I don't feel Toni is an accomplished keyboardist. He's an accomplished musician and songwriter.

Michi is amazing, skilled and powerful. He is the X-factor that makes this band great.

A bit of ranting:

About the time when my father passed away (love ya, Dad) I purchased this, as well as a few other RPI gems. I have not regretted this because I was burnt out on British prog since it became very hokey, dull, pretentious, noisy, and lacking balls the deeper I dug (KC, VDGG, Camel, Gong), as well as it being full of poor singers (save for GG... every album is gold). And Kansas, with the amazing Steve Walsh belting it out, was going into it's 20th year as one of my favorite prog acts (first 4 albums only). Being disgusted with American Prog Metal (DT, SG and Symph-X), I ventured over to Hardcore/Metalcore (like Pro-Pain) because I needed some oomph and directness!

It didn't last.

I had not know of my Italian brothers... and being an American, record store owners did not want to push more imports that were out of stock or mention RPI because of it's stature: something secret and virtually unobtainable... even in NYC. The like to sell English speaking discs since they sell was another factor.

Le Orme's Collage, as well as Metamorfosi's Inferno (5 star album), were my first foray into RPI. It opened me to a whole world I was missing due to the language barrier. I have this album and Inferno to thank for me studying Italian as an Italian-American. An American Terrone!

Hell, I also love 99 Posse, too... O' Zulu'!!!!

4 Stars because is signified what was next to come. "Felona e Sonora". .. though I like this album better.

Thank you, Le Orme!