DISCO DELL'ANGOSCIA

A descent into altered consciousness

The musical project Ultima Spiaggia was a large collective of impressive musicians who concocted a long lost gem entitled 'Disco dell'angoscia' in 1975. Composed by Gianco, Manfredi, Ninni Carucci, and Claudio Bonechi, the work was an ambitious and strange concept album about a man involved in a car accident and his subsequent journey through a dark unconscious state. The material resides on that wonderfully odd, avant branch of the RPI, where traditional RPI and the Italian song tradition get genetically modified with 1970s experimentation. One blog nails the description as 'swerving between musique concr'te, pop, avant-garde, beat, rock'n'roll, old-fashioned melodies, progressive rock...like continuously switching the stations of a radio tuned to the distorted brainwaves of a man fallen.' Indeed! (-laltritalia.wordpress)

The album begins theatrically with our character's heartbeat, revving engine, and near-fatal auto crash which puts him into a deep state of unconsciousness, from which point the rest of the album deals with his journey in this uneasy, claustrophobic state. The short tracks come at you like a Pollack painting with many sound samples, all kinds of odd noises and environmental things...birds, children humming, street sound. The music is just as chaotic with spoken word, choirs, Elvis rock, folk music, classical segments, and the sound of a man spiraling down the drain. My favorite part is the bit of church organ which always sets great mood, and the thoroughly Italian presentation of emotions here running the gamut from playful to downright scary. Some of the guitar and piano work are also very lovely. The large ensemble of talented people bring much to the table and there are some interesting musical parts, however the very intent of the album to be a chaotic ride of flash sequences does prevent much development in the standard sense. But if you enjoy oddities like Persimfans, Battiato, and Nascita Della Sfera, the Ultima Spiaggia might be right up your alley.

'Voglio Vivere' is one of those beautiful RPI moments with a passionate vocal, lovely piano, mellotron/strings, all building to a dramatic crescendo. A rocking electric lead drifts into the five-part 'Motivo Angoscia 1', a recurring bunch of eccentric interludes. The first part is a mix of Opus Avantra-like strangeness, weird chants and narrations crossing free piano runs. 'Canto delle' is one of the longer, more conventional rock tracks, with a strong brassy funk feel, trippy vocals and wild keys for a while, then another weird theatrical ending. Part 2 of 'Motivo' is a boy singing with no inhibition, to himself, then joined by a choir of boys and a marching drum. 'Motivo 3' is the short Jacula-like organ piece I so adore, slow and sad, distant. We're treated to a mock Elvis send-up, a lullaby, bathroom opera, and electronic twiddling before this is over. Far from a musical masterpiece and often sounding a bit contrived, the album is still a wonderful and interesting example of the mid-late seventies RPI scene, a time when these 'out there' experiments got a bit more prevalent and grand symphonic intent was not always present.

The stunning gatefold cover artwork was done by Paolo Baratella. Without question this is an album badly in need of a quality CD reissue which displays the artwork in mini-lp form.

This album is for me an incredible discovery. When I was a child, Ricky Gianco was just one of the members of Adriano Celentano's Clan: Italian rock and roll of the early 60s. I heard of him again at the end of the 70s, with a couple of political songs in a singer-songwriter form. Gianfranco Manfredi was another politically involved singer-songwriter who later turned to become an actor. Some nice funny lyrics on a couple of albums. The lineup here on PA is missing Ivan Cattaneo: a singer who had some moments of fame in the early 80s mainly with the cover of "Tintarella di Luna", a pop song of the 60s written by Giorgio Gaber and Enzo Jannacci and made famous by Mina.

After this long list of names, without forgetting Napoli Centrale's percussionist Tullio de Piscopo, the only one with prog credentials, they released this incredible album made of a combination of rock songs, avant tracks not far from what Battiato was doing few years before, with a concept unexpectedly similar to Ayeron's The Human Equation.

After the first minute, representing a man losing conscience after a car crash, there's a melodic song similar in some way to Lucio Battisti "Voglio Vivere(I want to Live), then the first of the five "Motif of Ambush" which are the most avant parts, made of recordings and disconnected moments, but also the songs like "Samba della Tortura e della Guerra (Samba of turture and war)" have avant elements.

We have to wait for "Che Cosa e'" to hear Ricky's voice and his acoustic folky guitar. Probably not what a proghead looks for, but a very nice short song.

A mention goes to "Rock Della Ricostruzione", opened by the voice of a politician. I think I know who is, but I'm not sure, then Ricky goes back to his original love with a Rock and Roll song with a 50s flavor if you don't consider the lyrics which are completely into the Italian political scene of the 70s.

"Davanti Al Nastro Che Corre" represents a factory's assembly line. The lyrics are about the alienation, as was intended by Karl Marx. The most rocking track of the album. A mention goes to the good bass work by Gigi Cappellotto.

"Zucchero Mio (My Sugar)" starts as a parody of the Italian songs of the period between the two world wars which were influenced by the opera, then turns to a song which I suppose is in some way another parody. It's mimic of the style of Lucio Battisti, who was actually criticized for being politically right winged.

"Piacere e Potere(Pleasure and Power)" Is about sex. A shabby thing: after the work in the factory a man is just trying to have some relief from a bad life, but he does it using violence on her girl or wife. The lyrics describe it in a raw way without using bad wording.

Well, all this happens in the "hero's" mind. The last seconds, with the heartbeat and the car crash let us intend that it all happens in the last moments of life.

A good album, one of the many "single acts" of RPI. Not a masterpiece, but interesting enough. I wouldn't have expected anything like this from these artists.