Gleemen - Oltre... lontano, lontano (2013)

"Oltre... lontano, lontano" is the seminal self-titled debut (and only album) under the name Gleemen. It serves as a fascinating blueprint for the Italian Progressive Rock (RPI) movement. While it retains the melodic sensibilities of late 60s beat music, the album is dominated by Bambi Fossati’s heavy, blues-infused guitar heroics and Lio Marchi’s swirling Hammond organ. It’s a record that feels like a bridge between London’s underground psychedelic clubs and the artistic ambition of Genoa.

The music is a dense, Hammond-heavy blend of Hard Rock and Psychedelia, clearly influenced by Vanilla Fudge, Deep Purple, and, of course, Jimi Hendrix. Yet, there is an undeniable Italian elegance in the vocal melodies and the poetic nature of the lyrics. It’s raw, slightly chaotic, and filled with the youthful energy of a band discovering that they can push the boundaries of rock music into something more complex and "distant" (as the title suggests).