OPERA PRIMA

The roots of this duo can be found in the Roman group Cammello Buck, found in 1971 by guitarist Pino Belardinelli, bassist Mauro Morlacchi, drummer Carlo Bordini and teenager keyboardist Paolo Rustichelli, son of Film Score composer Carlo Rustichelli.The group played in May 72' at the first Villa Pamphili Pop Festival and was signed later by the Delta label, featuring new bassist Pasquale Cavallo from Panna Fredda.Story says the management forced them to continued as a keyboard/drum duo and that's what happened, but the only album of the remaining Rustichelli and Bordini came out on RCA in 1973 with the title ''Opera prima''.

The duo sounded actually a bit like LE ORME circa-''Felona e Sorona'', playing a muddy, dark, symphonic-oriented Prog Rock and having obviously a keyboard-centered sound with strong Classical influences and occasional E.L.P.-like jazzy flashes.Rustichelli was armoured apparently with a Hammond organ, a Mellotron (which sounds often like a string synth among the mess of dual and triple keyboard exercises), an acoustic piano and a couple of synthesizers.Now, you won't even care about the absence of a bassist or a guitarist, because Rustichelli has been the central figure of a dense and emphatic album, full of organ solos, Mellotron waves and synth flashes.Other good reference points could be LATTE E MIELE during the softer moments and even IL BALLETO DI BRONZO, especially in the album's more complex keyboard/piano instrumentals.Do not expect an instrumental release, Paolo Rustichelli was also responsible for the harsh vocals appearing every now and then, another reason the album had a haunting atmosphere, except for some poetic singing lines at a couple of Classical preludes and interludes.The tracks are mostly long with some impressive Classical melodies, plenty of twists and complex ideas and, of course, some bombastic symphonic movements, always led by no less than two keyboard instruments and a solid drumming.Rustichelli was about 18 years old during the album's recordings and his fantastic performance along with his mid-aged, already mature voice make this whole work a pleasant surprise.

After playing in Napoli and Rome, the duo faded away.Bordini went on to join Oliver, which became Cherry Five, releasing one album with the band, before working as a session drummer.Rustichelli released some solo, keyboard-centered albums during his career, but his activities mainly focused on composing Film Score Music, as his father did before him.

Grandiose Italian Symphonic Rock with bombastic keyboard parts in the vein of LE ORME, CORTE DEI MIRACOLI and LATTE E MIELLE...but only performed on keyboards and drums.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.