Here’s another item I nabbed from the insane Italian progressive rock collection we purchased a few months ago. Originally I had only heard New Trolls’ take on “Night On Bald Mountain,” but when I saw we also had an affordable copy of an early studio album (released in 1971), I decided I should give it a listen. What I heard blew me away.
The album, which is also the original soundtrack to the film La Vittima Designata opens with a conductor tapping his baton to call his orchestra to order, and after a brief string intro the band kicks in. The orchestra and the band trade off for a for a few bars before everyone joins in together for a brief, sweet, motorik jam that really isn’t too-far removed from early Kraftwerk (think Kraftwerk I and Kraftwerk II). The second track, “Tempo: Adagio” is where we are introduced to the “theme” of Concerto Grosso…, with deep swaths of strings juxtaposed to fuzz guitars, the singer repeats the phrase “To die, to sleep, maybe to dream” several times. It’s been a long time since I’ve read Hamlet, so I remember the quote but not necessarily the context. Either way, this one phrase is the theme upon which the music varies. The third track again marries a beautiful violin solo with the full band (and soon after the orchestra) creating a fantastic atmosphere and a perfect introduction to Side A’s final cut, “Shadows”. The vocal harmonies on that third track are my favorite on the album. The counter-melodies add beautiful color to the orchestral music. “Shadows” is like an unheard Hendrix tune.
What’s a top-notch prog record without a side-long track? Concerto Grosso‘s second side is one track, 20-plus minutes of crazy, heady improvisation. It flows effortlessly between genres and styles, from Baroque to hard prog and jazz. I think I even heard the theme to Mission: Impossible in there somewhere. Yes, there’s a wicked drum solo. I apologize for some of the clicks at the beginning of the second side, I don’t know if the transfer software I use is even capable of removing clicks from audio tracks. It shouldn’t be too overpowering.
And the funniest part about the record is that apparently my friend Andy Zax appeared in La Vittima Designata way back in ’71! Lookin’ good, Andy!
New Trolls! Enjoy!
New Trolls
Concerto Grosso Per I New Trolls
Fonit Cetra, 1971
MediaFire DL Link
01. Tempo: Allegro
02. Tempo: Adagio
03. Tempo: Cadenza – Andante Con Moto
04. Tempo: Shadows
05. Nella Sala Vuota, Improvvisazioni Dei New Trolls Registrate In Diretta
