SOGNANDO E RISOGNANDO

"Sognando e risognando" is the third album by Formula 3 and was released in 1972 on the Numero Uno label with a consolidated line up featuring Tony Cicco (drums, percussion, vocals), Gabriele Lorenzi (piano, organ, Minimoog, synth, bass, vocals) and Alberto Radius (electric and acoustic guitar, bass, vocals). It marks an evident change in the band's musical direction that here turns from the song-oriented psychedelic rock of their first two albums to a full fledged progressive rock and more complex structures. As for the art cover, don't be mislead: the provocative, macabre subject elaborated by Caesar Monti, Gianfranco Marabelli and Wanda Spinello does not represent the content of an album where horrific, gloomy atmospheres do not prevail at all...

The opener, "Sognando e risognando" (Dreaming and dreaming again), is a suite divided into four parts signed Battisti-Mogol. A different, shorter version of this piece was released in 1971 on Lucio Battisti's album Umanamente uomo: il sogno but here the band deliver a new good arrangement adding some instrumental parts. It begins by an instrumental introduction subtitled "Fermo al semaforo" (Standing at the traffic lights) that sets a foggy atmosphere and a melancholic mood. Then, on the second part subtitled "Sognando" (Dreaming), the rhythm rises and soaring vocals without words begin to drive you far from the traffic jams and the daily grind of a big city. The third part, subtitled "La stalla con i buoi" (The stable with the oxen) depicts in music and words a beautiful, pastoral country landscape where you can live in harmony with nature and your sweetheart, surrounded by singing birds, rivers full of fishes and woods. You'd better hurry up and try to reach that place as soon as possible leaving behind the hectic city life. You can do it when the traffic lights turn to green... The short last part, subtitled "Risognando" (Dreaming again) ends the piece with a soft, peaceful mood.

The long, autumnal "L'ultima foglia" (The last leaf) is an instrumental suite composed by the band and divided into three parts. The first one, subtitled "L'albero" (The tree) begins by drum rolls and dark organ waves then the rhythm rises and the electric guitar draws some disquieting melodies conveying a nightmarish atmosphere... The second part, subtitled "Non mi ritrovo" (I'm not at ease) starts by a drum solo, then the pace accelerates bringing some echoes of Latin rock à la Santana while the last part, subtitled "Finale", ends the suite with a slight Gothic flavour...

"Storia di un uomo e di una donna" (Story of a man and of a woman) is a relatively short piece signed Battisti-Mogol that deals with a tormented relationship between a man and a woman that is slowly coming to an end. It opens with a soft acoustic guitar pattern and a melancholic feeling with the voice of Alberto Radius depicting the waning enthusiasm, the desire to look for another love, the fear to suffer again the pain of a broken romance... But there's still something left, a bit of love is still hanging in the air and some doubts rise, so the final curtain of this love story can wait another day!

The last track, "Aeternum", is another suite divided into four parts and composed by the band with the help of Lucio Battisti. The first part, subtitled "Tema", sets the atmosphere with a powerful incipit that after a minute gives way to a calmer passage where music and vocals describe a magic moment where time stands still and there's no need to think of a distant world nor to worry about the past. You can breathe slowly looking at the nature that surrounds you as the wind sweeps away your troubles, you can feel eternal at least for while... The second part, subtitled "Caccia" (Hunt), is evocative and dreamy and leads to the complex "Interludio", that begins by a piano solo pattern and is full of classical influences and sonic fireworks. Then the last part, subtitled "Finale", ends the album with a softer, dreamy mood...

On the whole, a very good album!