Officina meccanica
La follia del mimo di fuoco

THE REVIEW

Hello gentlemen!! What I'm about to do is my first review, so please be kind.

First of all, this album is not an LP but a compilation released last year (or at most two years ago, I don't remember now) that includes a good portion of the group Officina Meccanica's production, part of the Italian progressive underground of the seventies.

Sadly, this group did not release any LPs at the time, but only some 45 singles.

The group's strength and potential emerged following the broadcast by RAI of the (very amateur) video of the Suite "Bambini innocenti," which was much appreciated at the time, to the point that the group went on to open for important groups like Pfm and Banco and trending artists like Renato Zero.

But let’s get to the album…

Unfortunately, this is a compilation, not an LP. This justifies the profound heterogeneity of the tracks.

The only markedly progressive track recorded in the studio is the first one: "Suite bambini innocenti".

Then there are three much lighter tracks which are decidedly forgettable in my opinion: "Insieme al sole", "Amanti di ieri", "Angelo".

Then there are mixed in with the others four exceptional prog tracks recorded live at the time: "Primo turno", "Via non esiste", "Nel grattacielo di idee il pensiero più alto è la pazzia", "Il viaggio di un uomo non più uomo nella valle del tempo".

Let's move to the sound (of the prog tracks):

This group is characterized by a powerful sound due to the insistent use of brass (trumpet and sax primarily) in a perpetual dialogue with an exceptional rhythm section that leaves a bit of room only in moments when the singer's voice (the "Maiozzi" always dressed as a mime, he is the fire mime) comes out in all its theatricality.

And theatricality is what we’re talking about...

This always emerges from the way of singing and playing: an exemplary expressiveness always emerges from Maiozzi's voice and the brass, so much so that the live tracks immediately appear as an integral part of the visual spectacle offered by the duly masked musicians. Magnificent.

There are no keyboards. There’s no need for them. The brass, bass, and rhythm are enough to amaze in the long instrumental parts. And then when the Fire Mime starts singing...

The lyrics are anything but trivial, just as their immediate understanding seems anything but trivial.

If you love our homegrown prog, don't miss this album, you won’t be disappointed.

The rating refers to the prog tracks on the album. The rest, to me, doesn't matter.