Caronte by The Trip

With the arrival of Savona keyboardist Joe Vescovi, the group established itself as one of the leading bands of Italian prog.

Their  most important record production is divided into four key albums: The Trip (1970), a debut that mixed psychedelia and impressionistic rock; Caronte (1971), their masterpiece, a concept album that consecrated them as pioneers of the genre; Atlantide (1972), characterized by a transition to a trio line-up (Vescovi, Andersen, Gray) and influences similar to Emerson, Lake & Palmer; and Time of Change (1973), the last album of the historical period, with a more jazz-rock approach and the entry of Furio Chirico on drums.

After disbanding in the mid-70s, the band reunited on several occasions. In 2015, at the request of Joe Vescovi before his death, the historic drummer Pino Sinnone reformed the group. The current line-up continues to play and release new music, keeping the band's legacy alive with a line-up that includes vocalist Andrea "Ranfa" Ranfagni and guitarist Carmine Capasso.

The 1971 album Caronte is considered one of the milestones and among the first true examples of Italian progressive rock. It marks the band's detachment from the beat roots of the debut towards a more complex and overwhelming sound, led by Joe Vescovi's keyboards.

It is an ambitious album that uses the mythological figure of the infernal ferryman to connect Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy to the rebellious society of the early 70s.  It is not a simple rereading of Dante, but uses the journey into the Underworld to talk about the alienation and desire for freedom of the young people of the time. Charon does not only transport dead souls, but anyone who tries to move towards a new awareness and does so through the figures that the respectable society of the time considered on the margins: 
In "Two Brothers", the journey to the underworld is linked to the wild freedom of bikers (inspired by the film Easy Rider). In the suite "The Last Hour / Ode to Jimi Hendrix", the guitarist's death (which occurred a few months earlier) is seen as the passage of a modern demigod into the realm of shadows.

The concept is enclosed between two instrumental moments: 
"Charon I (The Beginning)": It represents the arrival at the shore, with a solemn and menacing sound dominated by Joe Vescovi's Hammond organ.
"Charon II (The End)": Closes the circle, suggesting that travel and the search for freedom are endless processes.

Under the mythological mask, the album critiques the power system and war (themes featured in "Little Janie"), depicting the real world as a real hell from which the "rebels" try to escape, even if it means ending up in Charon's boat.

The Trip stand out for a sound strongly characterized by Joe Vescovi's keyboards.  His style skillfully blends the virtuosity typical of classical music, with elements such as fugues and counterpoints, with the aggressive energy of rock.

Unlike other more melodic Italian progressive bands, such as PFM, The Trip maintain a strong Hard Rock imprint. Billy Gray's guitar interacts with Vescovi's organ through powerful riffs and distorted solos, reminiscent of blues-rock.
The album is permeated by echoes of the psychedelia of the late 60s.  Sound effects, reverberations and dilated musical structures contribute to creating the "infernal" and foggy atmosphere that characterizes the concept.

The songs do not follow the classic verse-chorus structure, but develop as musical suites.  An emblematic example is "The Last Hour / Ode to Jimi Hendrix", which alternates moments of rhythmic fury with dreamlike and solemn slowdowns, typical of classical music.
Wegg Andersen's bass and Pino Sannone's drums offer a solid and dynamic support, capable of going from jazzy tempos to overwhelming rock rides.

My version is NL 74299, the vinyl reissue released by RCA Italiana in 1990. Being a faithful reissue of the original 1971 master, the tracklist and listening experience follow the five historical tracks of the original album, maintaining the sonic cleanliness of the original RCA mix despite being a cheap version.

"Caronte I" opens the album with an instrumental piece that is a true gem of symphonic prog.  It starts with a mysterious and gloomy atmosphere, and then turns into a super addictive hard rock, thanks to the classic and powerful progressions of Joe Vescovi's Hammond organ.

"Two Brothers" is one of the longest and most eventful songs on the album. It opens with ambient noises, such as footsteps and engines, and a hypnotic bass riff by Wegg Andersen. The lyrics are a tribute to rebellious freedom, inspired by the protagonists of "Easy Rider".

"Little Janie" is a melodic song, dedicated to Janis Joplin, and also the most pop on the album.  It has a beautiful part of Mellotron and a dreamy atmosphere that makes you relax after the more intense songs that precede it.

"The Last Hour and Ode to Jimi Hendrix", in my opinion, is the most beautiful song on the album. It is a complex suite that pays homage to the legendary Jimi Hendrix, who unfortunately left us shortly before the recordings began.  The song unfolds between a blues structure in 3/4 and moments of pure technical skill, and then ends with a solemn and touching finale, enriched by the pipe organ and a great guitar solo by William Gray.

"Caronte II" closes the album by taking up the main theme of the first track, but with a decidedly more rock touch.

The album cover uses Gustave Doré's famous engravings made for Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy.  The image depicts Charon ferrying souls through the Acheron, evoking a solemn and dramatic atmosphere.  However, it also features modern and provocative details: a small tattoo with an anchor on the right arm, a cloth with the colors of the Union Jack (the British flag) covering the private parts, to emphasize the English origins of most of the band members, and the faces of the four members of the original line-up (Vescovi, Gray, Andersen and Sinnone),  almost suspended on the waves in the lower left, inserted between colorful and psychedelic clouds.
The back cover expands the homage to Gustave Doré with an engraving that depicts a multitude of damned souls on the banks of the Acheron, reinterpreted with ironic and provocative elements typical of pop/prog aesthetics. Extraneous graphic elements have been pasted on Doré's classic work that create a surreal contrast: a Union Jack supported by a damned man, which reaffirms the English soul of the band; a female figure in the center wearing an orange bikini, a touch of desecration typical of the early 70s; a yellow biplane in comic book style flying over the mountains of hell; and the band's logo, "THE TRIP", enclosed in a white speech bubble.

This album introduced symphonic Progressive in Italy, bringing a touch of internationality to a landscape still dominated by beat. The idea of merging Dante, bikers and a tribute to Hendrix into one hellish journey was revolutionary and perfectly embodied the rebellious spirit of 1971. Caronte's influence can be felt throughout the subsequent prog production, having paved the way for bands such as Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and Le Orme, demonstrating that classical music could coexist with harder rock. 
Historic album, a must in the collection, excellent!
 

My Version

Label: RCA Italiana – NL 74299
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Country: Italy
Release: 1990

Tracklist

A1        Caronte I
A2        Two Brothers
B1        Little Janie
B2        L'Ultima Ora E Ode A J. Hendrix
B3        Caronte II

LineUp

Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Lyrics by – William Gray
Lead Vocals, Bass – Arvid ''Wegg'' Andersen
Lead Vocals, Mellotron, Organ [Hammond, Church], Piano, Music By, Arrangements by – Joe Vescovi
Percussion – Pino Sinnone

Link for listening through major streaming platforms:

Spotify: Full album - Charon (1971)

Apple Music: Remastered Version - Charon

Amazon Music: Caronte (Streaming & MP3) 

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