PING PONG

How did I miss this cool album from the glory days of 1973 RPI? Perhaps because the band was hiding out in the Crossover section, which is pretty funny. The second album from Ping Pong is a much more interesting recording than their first. The biggest surface-level change is that they brought in a serious vocalist in Giorgio Bertolani, and all of the vocals changed from English to Italian language. Hugely helpful right there. The songwriting also became noticeably more elaborate and exploratory, although it still needs to be said that it's pretty tame in comparison to what else was happening around it.

The inclusion of a 10-minute long "suite" shows that Ping Pong were now feeling more comfortable with what they were hearing around them, although they do not go all-in. It's more of a pop-rock album that is dabbling with the RPI movement we so enjoy. That said, I still found it very enjoyable. Even the more "pop" numbers here shift from a '60s British vibe to a warmer, more romantic Ital-pop with more interesting embellishments in backing ingredients. Bertolani's voice is a huge improvement to the serviceable vocals of the first album. It is apparent by the second track that he is the real deal, already showcasing a romantic side and a big/bold/feisty side. The songs generally are only a little longer than the debut's 3-minute ditties, but they are more sophisticated and convincing. The sound is much improved, and the performances are killer in places, driving and jazzy, full of energy.

The short and acoustic "Il Villaggio" serves as the unofficial but lovely intro to the album's centerpiece, the 10-minute "Suite in 4 Tempi." The first part is jazz rock, the second part is romantic song, the third part a baroque-like interlude, and the fourth part mostly a drum solo, again, quite jazz-flavored. Does it deliver on its grand aspiration to be an album-defining suite? No, not really. It's okay and it's fun, but it sounds like an attempt into Supersister territory that doesn't quite cut it. I actually prefer their more Ital-pop songs with the good melodies and nice arrangements over their attempt at some high-minded suite. That other half of their coin that aspires to jazz fusion just doesn't excite me. However, you do get a nice mix of both here and, unlike the first album, I do recommend that RPI fans check this out. There's enough here to call this a good album, and it certainly is a part of the RPI story even if not fully convincing. A special note of thanks to Pierre/hellogoodbye who, way back in 2013, recommended that I check this out. Better late than never, my friend.