Blocco
Mentale was a band from Lazio that was formed in 1972 by Bernardo
“Dino” Finocchi (vocals, sax, flute), Aldo Angeletti (vocals,
bass), Gigi Bianchi “Roso” (guitar, vocals), Filippo Lazzari
(keyboards, vocals, harmonica) and Michele Arena (drums, vocals). In
1973 they released an interesting album called “Πoa” (that in
Greek means grass), featuring naive lyrics dealing with ecological
subjects, in a style that could recall bands as Le Orme, I New Trolls
and PFM. Although the album was good quality music, it was not at all
successful and, after the release of a last single, Blocco Mentale
disbanded. Later they reformed under another name, Limousine, playing
in a more commercial, conventional way... What a pity! Blocco
Mentale’s debut work is really worth listening to and the band
definitely deserved more credit.
The
opener “Capita” (It happens) starts with the sax in the forefront
counter pointed by the other instruments, then an acoustic guitar
comes in melting into the dark... It could happen that the scream of
a flower penetrates your mind and wakes up your heart so that you can
discover new colours while thousands of breaths in the wind carry
away your flower and you can feel a new strength and the wish to run
without a goal... “Hopes and illusions are floating lightly /
Confused in the colour of that wine... You’re shaking and to pluck
up courage / You give free play to cry / It seems that a voice is
talking to you / All you have to do is listen...”.
The
next track is “Aria e mele” (Air and Apples) where you can find
clear influences of Nice and Gentle Giant and bucolic lyrics... “I’ve
come into a village / I can listen to a choir / That is telling me /
This is the happiest world...”.
“Impressioni”
(Impressions) is a long, beautiful acoustic ballad featuring good
harmony vocals and a nice melody... “In awhile new sensations rise
/ The whole body shakes / Then I realize that a flower is born... I
discovered it in that pool / It was born after a long while / My
smiling image was smiling inside me...”.
“Io
e me” (Me and I) begins in a “bluesy” way, with acoustic guitar
and harmonica. The harmony vocals here could recall I New Trolls...
“What you can find under the blanket of leaves / That autumn
spreads on the worn out paths? / Steps, only steps... My fear of the
dark melts back / Now, even if I lose my way in the wood / I’m not
alone / If the eyes are friendly fireflies / I can see in the
dark...”.
In
“La nuova forza” (The new strength) the start reminds me of Le
Orme, then the rhythm becomes frenzied until acoustic guitar, flute
and soaring dreamy vocals come in depicting a delirious rising
morning where an ageless slow, tired wanderer tells stories and gives
hope painting fantasies...
“Ritorno”
(Return) sets out to describe in music and words the return to a
foggy city where the only green spot you can see is the traffic
light, while in the last track “Verde” (Green) the wish of people
longing for “green panoramas” soars light and melodic... “Big
city, we’ll buy a lawn for you / On your side walks there will be
the most beautiful grass...”.
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