MANDILLO

All the artistic landscape, the musical first of all, the infinite variety of musicians in the Italy of 70s has created some collaborations and then a large amount of albums and new bands.One of this was MANDILLO, a Genoese band (one more) which presents a strange formation. After the release "Astrolabio" in 1973 by GARYBALDI, Bambi Fossati and Maurizio Cassinelli continued their collaboration. The band is characterized by many notorious names such Bambi Fossati on guitar (great guitarist from Garybaldi), Aldo de Scalzi on keyboards (Picchio Dal Pozzo), his brother Vittorio de Scalzi on guitar from more known New Trolls. Despite this is a cast of great musicians the album is very boring!. The hunt to the exceptional band has failed this time.

Surely the fact that was 1976, did not help the musicians that had already created interesting things with their respective band. The golden age of Progressive Rock was over (except for some laggard as Picchio Dal Pozzo, Locanda Delle Fate, Maxophone) so in this little work is possible to listen only some "glorius act of pride" by Bambi Fossati that seems nostalgic.

The album was made probably only for funny, nothing to do with Prog Rock, only some little songs in an era that became soon materialistic more than ever. It is characterized by american echoes, more precisely by a West Coast style very close to the Beatles songs. I like the fourth song "Dora Dollar" especially for the voice that remind me an Italian artist called Sergio Caputo which have made a beautiful piece (not Prog) called "Sabato Italiano (Italian Saturday).

Melodies of songs for the radio, guitar arpeggios, harmonies and a few female vocals with latin reminiscence. Absolutely not Progressive Rock. A strange experimental "Progressive" experience between some great Prog musicians, which in this occasion don't play Progressive Rock.

2 Stars - If you want to complete your discography...