About 17 years ago I wrote the following (edited for relevancy):
Italy’s quirky PDU label released a number of albums in a variety of styles. Popular singer-songwriter Mina, who owned the label, paid the bills with her recordings, while she explored a more artistic side through others. Most known amongst the collector cognoscenti for their Italian pressings of the Krautrock Ohr and Cosmic Courier albums, PDU also released some Italian electronic and progressive minded albums of their own. Cincinnato would be the label’s only dive into the jazz rock waters (though the band apparently did not see themselves as playing this kind of music). Side 1 is all instrumental and starts with ‘Il Ribelle Ubriaco’, which has a loose and open feel that recalls the group Dedalus at the time of their debut. ‘Tramonto d’Ottobre’ is a short acoustic number, while side closer ‘Esperanto’ is truly jazz influenced rock, and might remind one of Perigeo. Side long ‘L’Ebete’ is more typical of an Italian prog rock epic, complete with subdued yet passionate vocals, driving guitar and keyboards, with multiple themes, sounds and changes – still quite a bit looser in structure than most in the genre. Shortly after the original recording of Cincinnato in 1972 (and not released until two years later), the band broke up and disappeared into the ether, until partially resurfacing for the reissue (see below)
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I hear it the same way today. Not a highly rated album apparently but I still find it very satisfying. Tough one to categorize but I think it still belongs more to prog than jazz rock.
Ownership: LP: 1974 PDU. Gatefold. Acquired online (2000). Very expensive album these days.
One of the very few Italian albums that didn't get reissued in the 80s and 90s, Cincinnato wasn’t released on CD until 2006 (on AMS). Comes in a mini-LP gatefold design. The texture is rougher and the colors are darker than the original. As well, it’s unfortunately apparent that the master tapes are lost, and that a clean LP had to be used as a master copy (but sounds fine). There are three bonus tracks included, the first two being newer jazz style recordings from keyboardist Giacomo Urbanelli and drummer Donato Scolese. They are pretty songs though not overly relevant to the recording itself. The third bonus is a live jam from the band when still known as Eros Natura (label asked for a name change). Decent sound all things considered, though the band still needed some work at this point. To the best of my knowledge, these three tracks remain exclusive to the CD. Today, this CD is no more to be found. I think I'll sell it anyway - the LP is all I really need (must continue to downsize).
2000; 10/2/06 (Gnosis); 9/14/23 (new entry)
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