PANNA FREDDA - UNO - 1971

One of those legendary, but so obscure albums, "Panna Fredda Uno" is mostly based on a very effective guitar-keyboards interplay. The arrangements are great with lots organ and excellent guitar. Classical influences are evident, but the music contains a lot of melodic and a instrumental research. The voice is good, the lyrics original and the album has no weak points. A great album sometimes evoking EGG or CARAVAN!

Recorded in 1970, Panna Fredda's lone work is one of the earliest pioneers of the ISP genre, one of the trailblazers of the distinct style of festive experimentation that would characterize so many great Italian bands. It's really an overlooked title in the Italian progressive rock universe. Heavy and dark with a distinct baroque twist and an emphasis on exploration, "Uno" was right there with other first wave titles from Orme, The Trip, and Osanna. The origins of Panna Fredda date back to 1966 Rome and the Italian beat when members were playing in a group called I Figli Del Sole. These nightclub gigs evolved into a 6-piece funk/R and B/brass outfit called Vun Vun. Reluctant leader and composer/guitarist/vocalist Angelo Giardinelli professed some boredom with the Italian scene of the time and wanted to move things to a rock quartet, but some touchy band politics and the mood of the local music scene stood in his way. He had to proceed covertly to form Panna Fredda behind the backs of the horn guys to realize his vision without hurting the feelings of friends. Not everyone in the group was convinced, thinking Angelo crazy for wanting to chase sounds that the public was not ready for. But there was no turning back: after hearing some albums a friend gave him from the likes of Vanilla Fudge, Hendrix, The Moodies, and Floyd, Giardinelli could not go back to playing it safe. The band made contact with a small label called Vedette who were looking for another hit machine to replace I Pooh, who were not delivering to the label's satisfaction. The first single was written by popular Italian musicians of the day but found success which led to the first band-penned singles early in the summer of 1970. More line-up changes would ensue caused by military service and marriage but the band was stoked for the moment and began to record their full length album. The new Panna Fredda was determined to lay down the brash and inventive new material coming from Giardinelli despite the label's plea for commercial singles. The evening before their first session they stayed up all night nervously going over all the details of what they hoped to accomplish. The results would be an artistic success to the band, their fans, and the music press in Italy. But to their horror I would imagine, the label balked at releasing the album. Though ready to go in 1970, Vedette shelved their album and the band hit the road playing to enthusiastic crowds. The label finally succumbed to public pressure and put out the record in 1971 as the band continued playing some of the Italian festivals of the day. But the usual suspects had doomed the band. There was no promotion for the album, no second album offered, and eventually the band split up.
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