FEDE, SPERANZA, CARITÀ

As much a rock album as it is progressive this little known diamond in the rough is one blistering contempary Italian progressive album. Released in 1972 and with a sound more reminiscent of Il Balletto di Bronzo which was released the same year but seems to have attained more recognition throughout out time than "Fede Speranza Carita" ( Faith,Hope,Charity) both contained a more heavy sound than usual for this genre of music in the early seventies, The band was a four piece and consisted of "Carlo Marrale" guitar,vocals,"Piero Cassano",keyboards,"Aldo Stellita",bass,vocals,"Renzo (Pucci) Cochis",drums and was produced by Piero Palmieri on the Durium label with a typical wonderful cover on the album of a Chalice with a cut out,(Gatefold). Italian Progressive bands created some of the most stunning and distinctive album covers which are still beautiful today and have not aged with time and this one is another.

Despite keyboards being the dominant sound used throughout this album the guitar gets a thrashing which is evident in the the first track "Fede Speranza Carita" with its keyboard intro which is quickly joined by the guitar before the vocals. Full credit must be given to the drummer who leads with the time changes throughout and fabulous patterns he plays.Backing vocals are used throughout with the vocalist to good effect and that guitar comes in for one fab solo. Just under eleven minutes in length and all the band get a crack at it throughout this driving composition. Progressive bliss with one hell of a rocker.The following tune is "Il Prete E Il Peccatore" and runs for the same time approx as the first track and is another hard rocking number and is opened with one crunchy guitar intro and keyboards are driving this along with that guitar while that drummer is right up their you know what. Things quieten down while the vocalist begins his section of the tune which creeps higher in tone before launching back into that heavy sound the band has. Awesome stuff and with even a narrative within this tune and the backing vocals give the tune one exquisite sound as the vocalist hits his notes.The third track is the softer piece on the album " C'e Chi Non Ha" and really although not a bad song it is the low point but does serve to give the album a break before it launches back into the last two compositions which are more reminiscent of that hard sound from the first two songs.Track four "Sinfonia Per Un Re" has some great violin and guitar and is another high point and must be mentioned.

Sometimes throughout the vocalist can be a little rough but everything is not perfect and in that flaw it does give the album character.One of my favourite albums from this genre's period with the first two tracks being the high point and with the predominate heavy sound it is one great little listen. The album is gold nugget in the middle of nowhere and disappeared back there but if you like it heavy this is for you.