Area - Jazz Fusion or Prog Rock Italiano?

Hi Emil! 
My own personal opinion is that they are fine in RPI.  There are certainly many "jazz rock" bands with an Italian address who have little sound characteristic of RPI, little Italian "flavor" if you will, they may be instrumental or not, but if listening you really would not know where they are from.  Heavily jazz oriented these kinds of Italian jazz bands fit well in J/F and we would place them there. 

Area is a mixed bag.  Certainly the jazz element is there but it's not the only consideration.  They were important to the Italian music scene of the 70s, politically and otherwise, so there's the historical factor.   They have the vocals present, but more importantly the wildness and flair of their style, which helps to give it that unique Italian feel....as opposed to something dryer like Kaleidon which fits perfectly in J/F.

That's just my take, off the top of my head.  J/F would work, but RPI works too in Area's case, and the team felt they were best suited there being such colorful members of the classic era.  In fact the placement of Area in RPI was discussed and agreed to by both the J/F team and the RPI team.  Others will disagree and that's fine too.  We do the best we can with placements, it's hard to please everyone.






Edited by Finnforest - April 14 2010 at 16:34

Well, I think the latter is a somewhat inane but sometimes neccessary classification, and given how solidly Area can fit in jazz fusion, I'd rather see them there (I certainly don't sense the thinly veiled classical sound that seems the most identifiable actual musical characteristic of RPI and most of their unique characteristics sound somewhat more in).

Can't claim to be an expert on the genre, and don't really mind either way.


Edited by TGM: Orb - April 14 2010 at 19:59

Area is a bit of a special case given how important they were to the classic era, we felt they belonged in the sub.  But our decision was simply our judgement.  They can of course be moved to J/F at the discretion of the Admin team if they feel we botched the placement.  We don't claim to be all knowing on the RPI team, we're just doing our best with our understanding of the scene.   

Hey John!  They used to be in JF until the Def was written, at which time the move was agreed by the RPI team, and OK'd by the JF team.  We felt they were an important part of RPI history and that many site cruisin' RPI fans would find them at home with the newly defined subgenre. 

JF is only a part of their true essence, IMO. 

(She's a Brazilian actress)

Padraic wrote: RPI probably a better fit than JR/F - but no matter the category, they kick ass and that's all the matters

Amen Pat! 

I'm gonna play the troll card here and say that Italy is a country, not a genre. Every band there could comfortably fit in one of the other subs. 

Agree to that, RPI is a flavour of prog, just like Canterbury and kraut are.

After struggling with PFM for a while, Area cracked the RPI can for me.
At first I took them for jazz-rock / RIO as well, but knowing more RPI albums now, I don't think they are all that different from other wild RPI bands such as Baletto, Osanna, Cervello etc...



Edited by Bonnek - April 15 2010 at 14:42

Finnforest wrote: Sckxyss wrote: I'm gonna play the troll card here and say that Italy is a country, not a genre. Every band there could comfortably fit in one of the other subs.      Hi Alex, you're not trolling.  There are many people who share your opinion.  But there are quite a few others who believe that RPI, like Krautrock, has enough of a cannon and style to be legitimate.  I'm thankful this site believes that.

No problem with that. Loads of bands and artists with a similar attitude/approach linked to a place or country is one way of defining a genre/style. But nothing about Area's music can be considered RPI. Geography alone isn't enough.

German bands (correctly) placed in jazzfusion like Kraan, Out Of Focus and  Embryo have more incommon with krautrock than Area has with the Rock Progressivo Italiano-sound.

(It could be argued that Area should be in avant/RIO)

Clearly there will be debate about things like this.  Here's my perspective: if I were new to Area, where would I most likely come across them and discover their greatness?  RPI.  Sure, there are some JRF elements.  But there are other elements as well, and the best RPI bands of the 70s were a great amalgamation of many influences seen in Italy, including jazz, avant, opera, classical, folk, fusion, psychedelic, and symphonic prog.  Clearly, each had their own spin and unique blend of influence.  But in Area's case, both for the music and the historical importance, not to mention the newbie litmus test, Area is best served in RPI.  I once talked to a guy who fairly convincingly argued that Area was more avant than anything!

I don't think so, Arti is a "dryer" jazz rock that fits well in JF.  Sensations I've not heard, so I can't comment yet.  Area is a more specialized case.  But you're entitled to your opinions man, as I said, there are others who feel as you do, and some who agree with us, it's not always open and shut case.  Some bands *could* be in more than one genre.  The RPI team more than any other is used to being second-guessed, remember, there are many people who feel we are not even a legitimate subgenre.  It's not up to me to change your opinion, I'm here to serve the music.  Write a letter to the big dogs making your case, maybe they'll move Area back for you if you think its such a disgrace. 

I gave my opinion, I'll bow out now and let others have their say. 




Edited by Finnforest - April 16 2010 at 05:47