Gli Avvoltoi
Quando vuoi scappare (1991-1995)

The commendable label from Pisa, Area Pirata, makes available a collection from the legendary group Avvoltoi. The Bolognese group was formed in the 80s amidst a full-on garage-psychedelic revival. However, the choice of Avvoltoi was to openly pay tribute to the Italian beat of the 60s, in a sort of time travel to that mythical period. After a single released by Toast of Giulio Tedeschi, they caught the attention of the then-important Contempo, which would publish their first album titled "Il nostro è solo un mondo beat". The album received much acclaim and carved out its own space within the Italian independent music scene. In 1991, a new incarnation of the Avvoltoi took shape: the historic founder and singer Moreno Spirogi and Sandro Piu from the garage-punk band Ugly Things decided to revive the glorious name. The second artistic phase was nonetheless very interesting: there was an evolution towards more enhanced sounds, where folk, psychedelia, and proto-prog influences are clearly recognizable. It is precisely this fertile artistic period that Area Pirata celebrates now by releasing the collection "Quando vuoi scappare (1991-1995)". This is an essential album for those who loved Avvoltoi and followed the Italian garage-psychedelic scene of the 80s. The record gathers the 2 singles released for Destination X by Scanna and the 12” published by Vu Ballé. There are also many unreleased tracks, including some recorded live. The recording quality of the unreleased tracks is always respectable, and the material is overall good. Certainly, these are recordings that deserved to be unearthed from oblivion. There are many covers that indicate the group's tastes, including Hush (by Jo South, made famous among others by Deep Purple), “Lucifer Sam” from the early Pink Floyd, those of the great Syd Barrett, and “Nell’aria” by the psychedelic Les Fleur De Lys. We can also listen to a live version of “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix and tributes to Small Faces, Spencer Davis Group, and Easybeats. The last track is a true classic from their discography, namely “Gli avvoltoi sono qua”. A group to love and listen to with emotional engagement. If you love the 60s, you will not be able to remain indifferent.