Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias - Italians From Outer Space (CD) - #280

Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias - Italians From Outer Space (CD)

It was the very year of 1977 and I probably came back from a lengthy stay abroad. And back to an office job and one of my lifelines was actually discovering Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias with their second LP "Italians From Outerspace". I hadn't heard of the band previously, not their debut and "skite" came later. The whole story of the band crammed into a recording/release period from 1976 to 1978. They should have been big, but I'm not sure about me, I always had a bit of a phobia regarding major acts (or what I deemed to be major acts). Maybe I got lucky that Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias never made the big screen.

                                

The first couple of times I listened to the album, I heard traces of Zappa (Frank, that is) in their music and I remember talking about it to some friends of mine during that time and I got laughed off. Granted, three of them were Frank Zappa fans and knew definitely more about his music than yours truly. A couple of years ago, I read an assessment re the bands output by a music journalist and specifically the "Italians From Outerspace" and he mentioned certain parts of their music in neighbour's garden to good old Frank. I wasn't relieved or anthything that I was proven not to misheard, I just acknowledged the text with maybe a nod.

                                 

The Album has stayed with me and I have several copies on Vinyl. But I forgot all about it for years at a stretch and this with one of the major albums in my collection. Every ten years or so, I plucked the LP from the rack and went back in time when music was great, unrushed and noone was on the hunt for the last made-up in genres. It's amazing, I could have waited twenty years in between each listening session and still remembered every nook and cranny. The only thing I lost (might have to do with old age), the lyrics I knew by heart. These days, I only know what they are all about, but I couldn't sing along anymore. Like I could ever sing-

And what comes to mind, people probably didn't get it back then. And they still don't. Same with Monty Python, but there at least I had one(!) comrade in arms to fight the good fight. As for Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias, I was all alone on the battlefield. Speaking of Monty Python, some parts of this album do remind me extremely of the latter. Just listen to "Whispering Grass" and some others here.

                                   

Around 1980 the curtain fell and a great band was no more. The album )LP) is quite readily available on the 2nd hand market for a  price that doesn't break the ban. Different matters re CDs, as the debut and this one here have only been released once and never again reissued. Also some word re the entry of the CD on Discogs: The data is incorrect. First it's a German and not a UK release (even considering that Discogs regards the marked as country of origing - would make this European at the very least) and second, the label is Line and not Transatlantic Records (it says on the inlay TRANSATLANTIC RECORDS, issued under licence to Line Music GmbH). The data on Discogs is heavily compromised anyway, and you're doing yourself a favour to check other sources and compare the information, lest you fall for all the misinformation.

The genre and style is stated as Rock, Rock & Roll, Parody, Prog Rock, Country Rock which I'd take with more than a grain of salt, especially the Prog Rock thing seems to be a bit far fetched. As for the sound, the LPs that I have have a loud and clear cut, while the CDs is so low on volume, I don't have any other Compact Disc that I have to turn up so high to get at least a satisfying listening experience (and I'm not talking about Motörhead-loud). Actually, for listening enjoyment I do prefer the LP in this case. But as stated above, it's anyway easier to get the vinyl than the CD.

Cheers

Roland