Search - Le Orme :: Collage

This album is truly underrated

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 12/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Le Orme is an example of a band drastically changing their sound, this time for the better. A good comparison would be Genesis with From Genesis to Revelation, which was basically psychedelic pop, and Trespass, which was their first truly progressive album. Likewise with Le Orme. In 1969 they released Ad Gloriam, which was psychedelic pop, and then in 1971 they followed it with Collage, which was their first truly progressive album (although the album Orme released in '70, L'aurora Della Orme was basically a collection of early recordings, stretching as far back as 1967). Both Genesis and Le Orme knew that psychedelic pop was reaching a dead end and thanks to King Crimson releasing In the Court of the Crimson King, and a year later, ELP with their debut, it was time to move on to prog rock. With Le Orme's case, the band switched from a label called Car Juke Box, to Philips, with two band members leaving, Claudio Galieti and Nino Smeraldi, leaving the band down to a three piece, with bassist/guitarist/vocalist Aldo Tagliapietra, keyboardist Toni Pagliuca, and drummer Michi dei Rossi. The result is being Collage, an often unjustly underrated album. This album is not as highly regarded as their next three albums, Uomo di Pezza, Felona e Sorona, and Contrappunti, which I can't figure out why. This album is more aggressive and unpolished than what's typical from them. The album has a live "in the studio" feel, making me think some of this was recorded in one take (although the album did take about four weeks to complete, recorded from May 17 to June 3, 1971 according to the album liner notes). The title track is an instrumental piece that makes me think of The Nice, although there's some classical themes played on a clavinet. "Era Inverno" reminds me something Franco Battiato did on his album Fetus (1972), but without the bizarre electronic effects. "Cemento Armato" mainly consists of a lengthy organ solo. The organ here is heavily fuzzed, Pagliuca's organ work here reminds me of Vincent Crane or Jon Lord! "Evasione Totale" is a bizarre experiment, often reminding me of those Krautrock bands at the same time. Toni Pagliuca gives us some really nice spacy organ. I just love the bass work Aldo Tagliapietra gives us here, and there's nice jazzy passages. "Immagini" is dominated by organ, and synthesizer (although the album doesn't mention one), with that late '60s gimmick of Aldo Tagliapietra electronically modifying his voice. The one thing totally missing on Collage is the romantic balladry you find on Uomo di Pezza, you won't find anything like "Gioco di Bimba" or "Una Dolcezza Nuova" here. This album really deserves more credit. Yes, it's often acknowledged that this album helped launch the Italian prog scene (much like In the Court of the Crimson King did with prog in general some two years before), but in light of their following three albums, it's often overlooked and underrated. A wonderful album that I highly recommend."

Raw but deligthful!

Speedy | Fl, MO USA | 03/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As i am listening to this after more than 15 years of not playing this Lp (i have the vinyl edition) i would like to say that this is still pretty good if you love 70's prog rock. I am sure the other works that followed Collage are great too as many reviewers have stated, but this has a nice , raw appeal. And even though many have said this is only drums, keys and bass there are a couple of nice tracks which include 'orchestral' arrangement.There is also some guitar here and there. But is the melodies that of course grab you after a few spins . Very nice surprise after not really giving them much thought over the years. Looking foward to listening to the other 3 cds that followed!"