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Picchio dal Pozzo, the debut album by the Italian progressive rock group of the same name, released in 1976, here in a beautiful 2020 reissue
Picchio dal Pozzo are an Italian avant-prog band formed in Genoa in 1972, with a sound influenced by the Canterbury scene and, despite little commercial success, have rightly been re-evaluated for their splendid fusion of melodic jazz-rock, avant-garde experimentation, and progressive rock.
The band was founded by Aldo De Scalzi (keyboards, vocals), Paolo Griguolo (guitar, vocals), Giorgio Karaghiosoff (sax, percussion, vocals), and Andrea Beccari (bass).
The name “Picchio dal Pozzo” was inspired by a work of art depicting a knight standing near a well.
This is their debut album, a milestone of Italian music with an eclectic sound, close to that of the Canterbury scene, which is why the album is dedicated to Robert Wyatt, a fusion between musique concrète and progressive rock with complex rhythms, where keyboards and wind instruments are the main protagonists, accompanying vocals made up of surreal lyrics and vocal effects.
Some notes on the tracks:
- Merta is a complex opening track of the album, a great start with guitar, percussion, and vocalizations.
- Cocomelastico opens with a delicate and very atmospheric sound, and as the track progresses, other musical elements are slowly introduced, including piano, drums, and bass, blending into a jazz-fusion style. Beautiful.
- Seppia is a dark, intense, and complex track that blends heavy, intense rhythms with softer, more melodic passages, featuring heavy drums, a constantly present synth, unsettling xylophone, and contrasting instrumental sections and vocal melodies.
- Napier is an atmospheric and slow track that moves from a soft beginning with wind instruments towards a more intense instrumental section, then closes in a pastoral style.
- La Floricultura Di Tschincinnata is an experimental and instrumental track, a fusion of jazz-rock, Canterbury scene sound, and avant-garde music. Saxophone, electric piano, and spoken word samples, a beautiful piece, the border between jazz and avant-garde.
- La Bolla is a slow and atmospheric track that begins with female vocal melodies and spacey sounds, with a beautiful saxophone solo and a section with dissonances.
- Off closes the album with beautiful piano and flute melodies and lovely vocal parts
This is a unique work in the landscape of Italian progressive music.
Beautiful album, great atmospheres, great musicians. Highly recommended.
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page
Tracklist
1. Merta (3:18)
2. Cocomelastico (4:23)
3. Seppia (10:16) :
- a) Sottotitolo
- b) Frescofresco
- c) Rusf
4. Bofonchia (0:51)
5. Napier (7:23)
6. La Floricultura Di Tschincinnata (4:22)
7. La Bolla (4:29)
8. Off (4:49)
Total Time 39:51
LineUp
- Paolo Griguolo - guitar, percussion, recorder, vocals
- Aldo De Scalzi - keyboards, percussion, alto saxophone and guitar, vocals
- Giorgio Karaghiosoff - winds, flute (5), percussion, vocals
- Andrea Beccari - bass, horn, percussion, vocals
With:
- Cristina Pomarici - vocals (3c)
- Gerry Manarolo - guitar (7)
- Vittorio De Scalzi - flute (3b,5,8)
- Leonardo Lagorio (CELESTE) - alto saxophone (5,7), flute (5)
- Fabio Canini - drums (5,6), percussion (3a,5,7)
- Carlo Pascucci - drums (5,7)
- Ciro Perrino (CELESTE) - xylophone (3), flute (5)
- Renzo "Pucci" Cochis - cymbal (6)
-Roberto Romani/tenor saxophone and flute (9)
- Aldo Di Marco - drums, percussion and vibraphone
