I Califfi - Fiore Di Metallo FLAC album

from my Italian Progressive Rock reissue explosion Part 2 feature in Audion 23 (Nov.1992)
Another very complex story in Italian rock concerns a person known as "Frankenstein", apparently one Franco Boldrini (also reputedly the pseudonym of Paolo Tofani of Area, though I do have my doubts about this), known for his lyrics with Area and other bands. A Battiato compilation claimed that the band Electric Frankenstein were actually the backing band on Battiato's own POLLUTION (the Electric Frankenstein poster displayed within the gatefold cover would substantiate this, although no Boldrini is mentioned), and to make the story even more complex let's turn our attention to I Califfi and their little known classic FIORE DI METALLO, which is in many ways an earlier Italian lyric version of the Electric Frankenstein album! At first the association may not be obvious, yet many of the tracks are earlier versions of those to be found on WHAT, ME WORRY? albeit with totally different arrangements, altered chorus and verse relations, and a much more classical rock based music. The two instrumentals are even more surprising, complex and dazzling organ fronted extravaganza's in the vein of the best instrumental Le Orme or Banco. Knowing Electric Frankenstein's album so well, the initial experience of I Califfi seemed strange, very Italian, very esoteric, rich and distinctly early-70's, contrasting greatly with the very English sound of Electric Frankenstein, yet I quickly warmed to it.