DENTRO L'INVISIBILE

Genfuoco are an Italian prog band that was formed in Tuscany in the early seventies. The members of the band were linked to the Gen Movement, a Christian movement founded in 1967 by Chiara Lubich to promote among young people from all over the world a peaceful revolution able to change the hearts first and then to change society bringing everywhere the spirit of the gospels. Genfuoco started playing covers of other bands linked to the Gen Movement like Gen Rosso but later they managed to shape their own sound writing original songs in a progressive rock style that could remind of bands like PFM, BMS or Le Orme, with a good use of flute and sax. The line up featured Marco Borgogni (vocals, flute, guitar), Tarcisio Bratto (sax, guitar), Franco Cecchi (keyboards), Paolo De Luca (guitar), Giovanni De Luca (bass) and Marco Naldini (drums). They had a good live activity all over Europe in the "Genfest circuit" and, after a self-produced demo-tape called "Antichi confini", in 1979 they released an interesting album for the Catholic label Città Nuova, "Dentro l'invisiblie" (Inside the invisible). The album was prevalently distributed through Catholic bookshops and almost completely "out of market". Luckily the independent record label Mellow Records re-released the album on CD in 1992. The sound quality is not perfect, nonetheless the music is really worth listen to...

The calm and dreamy instrumental opener "Ouverture" set the atmosphere. It begins with a solemn marching beat, then pastoral acoustic passages and delicate melodies played by keyboards, electric guitar, sax and flute follow in a perfectly balanced way...

"Dalla tana" (From the burrow) is darker and unquiet. It describes a strange dream, a stroll through a blurred past where ancient scimitars on the stones of a temple reflect the light and mummies lurk in the shade. "I painted with my thoughts / What the dark lacks...".

The reflexive "Traspare" (It shines through) is about the ephemeral values of everyday life and the need to look for a more spiritual way of life... "Who are you? / Things turn around you... It shines through / Night and day / You leave your footprints on the sand / Well, they are already vanishing into the eternity / Forever...".

"Terra promessa" (Promised Land) is a complex track in two parts, inspired by the Holy Bible... "On the sand / Into the silence / The infinity is a breath that goes / A few men are staring / They are walking on their footprints / The night is falling / Slow steps, hopes and distress / Tears into the void / Many years have passed by / And sweat dug the faces / But they keep on walking...". Never give up! Beyond the hills a virgin land and a new story is waiting... Percussion with a Latin flavour seem to set a happy end for people who don't loose hope.

Next comes the meditative "Galassie" (Galaxies). Music starts softly, featuring acoustic guitar and a soaring sax solo, then rhythm takes off. Lyrics invite you to the contemplation of the stars and constellations under a sky of glass. Just try to think about the mysteries of the cosmos... "Lost into the paradise / Hanging in the space / We're walking in a fabulous reality.. Now we're gliding below / We fall into a vortex / We're getting lost in the dark / The dream is coming to an end... Let's take again our time".

"La serenata del fiume" (The serenade of the river) is a beautiful acoustic ballad that streams away in a fairy tale atmosphere. Once upon a time the Earth was generous and the water pure... "Like water that flows relaxed on the river / And dance while is carried away / He will gather all the flowers for you / The flowers on the bank that have the same colour of the moon...".

Last comes the title track "Dentro l'invisibile" (Inside the invisible), my favourite piece on this album. It begins with a spacey flavour, like if coming from the dark side of the moon... "Here you are / The King is there / Fragile flower in a muddy desert / In the night, alone, without anything / Hanging in the emptiness of the cosmos... It's the absurd, the separation, the cry, the scream / Loneliness, moments of death... Who will be able to read into the invisible? / Who will sit on the throne of deliverance? / Who will dig beyond the abyss of the ego / And then will find himself inside us?". Well, the influence of Pink Floyd here is clear but the band managed to shape an original and intense track full of spirituality.

On the whole this is a very good album that deserves to be re-discovered by Italianprog lovers...