L'UOMO

OSANNA deserve a special reference among 70's italian bands,as they were one of the first to add progressive elements in their rock style.They came from Naples and their virgin release ''L'uomo'' from 1971 is a nice proto-progressive album.The band delivers strong rockin' musicianship nicely bastardized by the addition of driving flutes,dark saxes,folk-like acoustic passages and deep vocals.The album contains Italian- and English-sung mid-length tracks with its main characteristic being the interplays between the fuzzy guitars and the heavy flutes.Comparisons with JETHRO TULL are logical,though OSANNA had a less-polished sound and an intense mediterrenean taste compared to JETHRO TULL of the same period.A great debut by a great band!