CON LE ORECCHIE DI EROS

Once upon a time...a band called FROGS meets a singer-songwriter in Bologna (Italy), becomes its support band and the bassist Roberto COSTA becomes one of the most appreciated sound engineers in the area, working for all the Italian big popstars in the following years.

But in 1977 the band puts all its soul and musical influences in a one-shot album, totally different from the political ballads of Claudio LOLLI, the singer-songwriter. What they do is an instrumental album in the vein of contemporary bands like AREA and STORMY SIX, with a lot of jazz and experimentation on which the band members can show all their skills.

Unfortunately in 1977 Claudio Lolli left EMI so the album which was ready to be released under his sponsorhip is blocked. Only two years after Claudio Lolli was contacted by EMI and releasing his band's album was a condition for the new contract

I don't know why they changed the band name from FROGS to ORCHESTRA NJERVUDAROV. This name was used for this album only. A hidden gem just reprinted in CD after decades of oblivion.

The music is challenging, but less dark respect to other contemporary RIO bands. Some parts are even melodic and one of the album songs, the fourth track, "Tristessa" has been championed into a JAY-Z song...unbelievable. Also because the Zappaesque "Rapporto Njervudarov", parodistic of the 70s disco, with quotes of BEE GEES (You Should be Dancing) was probably easier to be included in a rap, also because most of the sung part is speeched.

The album is very short as it scores just a bit more of 30 minutes, but it deserves to be more known.

Both Carlo Costa and Bruno MARIANI are still active as session men. Other than a good album is also a collector item. Unfortunaltely I don't own a copy.

ORCHESTRA NJERVUDAROV were a five piece band out of Italy releasing this sole album in 1979. It was supposed to be released in 1977 but there was some changes upstairs at EMI which caused the two year delay. So this did get a release then, but man this slipped under most RIO/Avant fans radar. Very similar to what STORMY SIX was doing with 1977's "L'apprendista" and 1980's "Macchina Maccheronica". Chamber music that is dense and complex. Difficult music, but we get seven tracks worth less than 33 minutes.

There is a controversial song that opens side two at under 3 minutes, where during the first two minutes they mock disco, but unfortunately we have to listen to such music before they change over the final minute to a rock tune with rough vocals which honestly isn't much better. This is like a fly in the ointment this track. Of course the rest of the album is very difficult with all of these sounds meshed together. Impressive but not easy on my ears. There's a few multi-instrumentalists here so we get a lot of flavours including vibes, synths, a variety of horns giving a jazzy flavour, flute, lots of poly moog too.

So not as good as STORMY SIX's 1977 album but I'll take it over their 1980 record, humour and all, and this record feels closer in sound to that 1980 release. A challenging album that I have a lot of respect for, but there's little in the way of enjoyment for me here.