Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Blocco Mentale was an Italian prog band from Lazio that was formed in 1972 by Bernardo "Dino" Finocchi (vocals, sax, flute), Aldo Angeletti (vocals, bass), Gigi Bianchi "Roso" (guitar, vocals), Filippo Lazzari (keyboards, vocals, harmonica) and Michele Arena (drums, vocals). In 1973 they released an interesting album called "Πoa" (that in Greek means grass), featuring naives lyrics dealing with ecological subjects, in a style that could remind of bands like Le Orme, New Trolls and PFM. Despite the good quality, the album was not successful at all and, after the release of a last single, Blocco Mentale disbanded. Later they reformed with another name, Limousine, playing in a more commercial and conventional way. Blocco Mentale's debut work is really worth listen to and the band would have deserved definitively more credit. [Andrea Parentin]
Their album is slightly longer than most vintage RPI at 40 minutes and deals with nature and the creeping realization that man was altering the environment in ways that would eventually lead to destruction. The group released another single after this album but then quickly folded which is a real shame. A message from the band in the liner notes states "We'd like to talk about nature. With these few tracks we'd like to remind the little green world that is still around us. Maybe there could be a different world than the one we've created, maybe you could discover too all the values of life that we have been lately disregarding. With love." Eventually the band would reform under another name Limousine and have some modest success with a more commercial sound. That band folded when keyboardist Lazarri, dealing with depression, attempted suicide. He died in 1991 in a car accident while heading to a gig in Rome. Like so many other quality one-shot Italian bands, drummer Michele Arena said the label signed them up upon hearing them play and then never provided any support or promotion once the album was pressed. [Jim Russell]
Discography
Albums
- Ποα (1973)
Singles & EPs
- L'Amore Muore A Vent'Anni (1973)
Miscellaneous
- Blocco Mentale / Wess – L'Amore Muore A Vent'Anni / Io Sto Bene Senza Te (1973)
Ποα (1973)
Songs / Tracks Listing
- 1. Capita
- 2. Aria E Mele
- 3. Impressione
- 4. Io E Me
- 5. La Nuova Forza
- 6. Ritorno
- 7. Verde
Bonus on Mellow CD:
- 8. L`amore Muore A Vent`Anni
- 9. Lei E Musica
Line-up / Musicians
- Aldo Angeletti / solist vocals, bass
- Michele Arena / vocal, drums
- Gigi "Roso" Bianchi / vocals, guitar
- Filippo Lazzari / vocals, keyboards and harmonica
- Dino Finocchi / solist vocals, sax and flute
Releases information
- LP Titania - BM 2301 - 1973
- (Remastered by Vinyl Magic 2000 Records - a division of BTF srl - CD 032 - in 2000)
Source
- progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=43
- progarchives.com/album.asp?id=174
- discogs.com/artist/1531176-Blocco-Mentale
Official website
- italianprog.com/a_blocco.htm
This video didnt upload for monetization. If you think this video violates the law of copyright please contact with me through email instead of contact with YouTube.
Blocco Mentale was an Italian prog band from Lazio that was formed in 1972 by Bernardo "Dino" Finocchi (vocals, sax, flute), Aldo Angeletti (vocals, bass), Gigi Bianchi "Roso" (guitar, vocals), Filippo Lazzari (keyboards, vocals, harmonica) and Michele Arena (drums, vocals). In 1973 they released an interesting album called "Πoa" (that in Greek means grass), featuring naives lyrics dealing with ecological subjects, in a style that could remind of bands like Le Orme, New Trolls and PFM. Despite the good quality, the album was not successful at all and, after the release of a last single, Blocco Mentale disbanded. Later they reformed with another name, Limousine, playing in a more commercial and conventional way. Blocco Mentale's debut work is really worth listen to and the band would have deserved definitively more credit. [Andrea Parentin]
Their album is slightly longer than most vintage RPI at 40 minutes and deals with nature and the creeping realization that man was altering the environment in ways that would eventually lead to destruction. The group released another single after this album but then quickly folded which is a real shame. A message from the band in the liner notes states "We'd like to talk about nature. With these few tracks we'd like to remind the little green world that is still around us. Maybe there could be a different world than the one we've created, maybe you could discover too all the values of life that we have been lately disregarding. With love." Eventually the band would reform under another name Limousine and have some modest success with a more commercial sound. That band folded when keyboardist Lazarri, dealing with depression, attempted suicide. He died in 1991 in a car accident while heading to a gig in Rome. Like so many other quality one-shot Italian bands, drummer Michele Arena said the label signed them up upon hearing them play and then never provided any support or promotion once the album was pressed. [Jim Russell]
Discography
Albums
- Ποα (1973)
Singles & EPs
- L'Amore Muore A Vent'Anni (1973)
Miscellaneous
- Blocco Mentale / Wess – L'Amore Muore A Vent'Anni / Io Sto Bene Senza Te (1973)
Ποα (1973)
Songs / Tracks Listing
- 1. Capita
- 2. Aria E Mele
- 3. Impressione
- 4. Io E Me
- 5. La Nuova Forza
- 6. Ritorno
- 7. Verde
Bonus on Mellow CD:
- 8. L`amore Muore A Vent`Anni
- 9. Lei E Musica
Line-up / Musicians
- Aldo Angeletti / solist vocals, bass
- Michele Arena / vocal, drums
- Gigi "Roso" Bianchi / vocals, guitar
- Filippo Lazzari / vocals, keyboards and harmonica
- Dino Finocchi / solist vocals, sax and flute
Releases information
- LP Titania - BM 2301 - 1973
- (Remastered by Vinyl Magic 2000 Records - a division of BTF srl - CD 032 - in 2000)
Source
- progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=43
- progarchives.com/album.asp?id=174
- discogs.com/artist/1531176-Blocco-Mentale
Official website
- italianprog.com/a_blocco.htm
This video didnt upload for monetization. If you think this video violates the law of copyright please contact with me through email instead of contact with YouTube.
