PARADISO A BASSO PREZZO

An unknown group from the smallest (semi-autonoumous) region of Italy, Valle d'Aosta, Paradiso a Basso Prezzo were a five-piece combo with multi-instrumentalist and singer Ugo Wuillermin as the main figure next to keyboardist Paolo Manfrin, bassist Sergio Cardellina, guitarist Maurizio Baldassarri and drummer Guido Gressani.Reputedly, at the pick of Italian Prog in 1973, the group had a prepared album entitled ''Pika Don Hiroshima'' ready to go, but no particular interest from a label condemned it to the shadows of time.However, tapes from a 73' live recording of the group in Saint Vincent were saved and released as a Paradiso a Basso Prezzo's eponymous document in 1992 by Mellow Records.

This obscure group had definitely a quite experimental, rather excessive style, characterized by somewhat abstract musical ideas and not helped by the average sound of the live recording.The three long opening tracks give hope for a great experience along the lines of Italian Prog, but the bizarre atmosphere, the extended psychedelic soundscapes and the lack of tight songwriting prevent them from being so.They are based on rather loose and stretched themes with flutes, piano and guitars in evidence, close to bands like JUMBO or PHOLAS DACTYLUS, creating a haunting mood with no melodies at all and melodramatic Italian vocals around.This is not disastrous music of course, just more on the amateur side of things.The second part of ''Ai raggi del sole morente'' is quite cool with lovely Hammond organ, background synths and powerful electric guitars offering some nice minutes of Italian-flavored instrumental Prog music.Strong jazzy elements can also be found in the third epic ''Danza di zingara'' with some very complex bass parts and hard, driving flutes around, but as a whole this is another song that sounds like a jam session.No surprise, the shorter tracks are a bit better.Especially ''Spleen XVII'' is beautiful, soft Italian Symphonic Rock with evident CELESTE vibes, featuring excellent synth/flute interplays and some muddy harpsichord opening notes, finally supported by emotional vocals, while ''Caino nel tempo'' is more in the vein of ALPHATAURUS, atmospheric Italian Prog with scratching guitars, high-pitched voices and virtuosic Hammond organ, another fine piece of music.

Paradiso a Basso Prezzo would split in mid-70's, leaving these recordings as the only archive of their brief, unfortunate career.A very uneven album with a couple of great tunes, but the mediocre recording quality and the somewhat pointless long tracks does not make it essential, this is rather a decent addition for die-hard fans of Italian Prog...2.5 stars.