ARBEIT MACHT FREI

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are entering the "almost" non plus ultra of progressive music, whatever subgenre you want to addres to this 70's italian band. Ok, I must admit I"m italian and so I may sound not too objective to review this album, but as a matter of fact whoever will listen to this album will be amazed and left speechless. For those who are a bit familiar with the political and social situation in Italy during the 70's, it will be quite easy to recognize the incredible political background in the lyrics of "Arbeit Macht Frei", ironic title taken from the well known Nazi motif, "the work makes you free". And this is one of the unique peculiarities of Area, the ability to match the sperimentalization of complicated music with very intense and profund lyrics. In fact, Demetrio Stratos was first of all an all-around artist, a sperimentalist of the voice, as you could appreciate in his solo album "Cantare La Voce". And behind him but not least, a group of musicians who will undoubtedly influence many generations. What is phenomenal is the rhytmic section, in which we can hear the bass lines modelled along a sometimes walking bass-like pattern and some other times more funky and "groovy", if you let me this adjective. My favourite song is Luglio, Agosto Settembre (Nero), a music manifesto of what my country was on those years, seen thorugh the eyes of these 5 superb and crystally innovative musicians; yet, it's just a question of emotional impact, because the rest of the album must be present in your discography, as well as The Dark Side Of The Moon or In the Court of the Crimson King or Foxtrot, and I'm not joking, as you will experience after listening to it.