ZEIT

An obscure acoustic group from Florence, Zeit started performing towards the end of the 70's, featuring guitarist/mandolin player Andrea Tamassia, percussionists Paolo Casu and Grazia Scaramelli, violin player Paolo Chiavacci and bassist Giampiero Rezoagli.Their instrumental debut LP ''Un giorno in una piazza del mediterraneo'' was released in 1979 on the Toscanese label Materiali Sonori.

Stylistically speaking the title of the album says it all (translates into ''one day in a Mediterrenean square'').The quintet played pure Ethnic/Folk music based on the Mediterrenean tradition with acoustic guitars, mandolins, violins and percussion on the forefront.But there is also some strong amount of flutes, tabors, glockenspiel and clarinets to be found.What really strikes with every listening is how much experimental and progressive this band was back then.Their sound lies difinitely in the Progressive Folk field.A good amount of interplays between the traditional instruments along with good Ethnic solos by the violins and clarinets but also some strong individual passages with a haunting yet nostalgic atmosphere and a quite rich sound overall.Additionally there are some more mournful parts with a melancholic mood, making the album very diverse regarding its themes.If you can imagine ANGELO BRANDUARDI performing with an acoustic version of AREA you will propably get close to this soundpicture.

A few pure acoustic Folk bands managed to thrill me and many moments in this album have really spoken straight to my heart.Romantic, very experimental and highly traditional Progressive Folk music of good quality.Recommended overall and a must-have for followers of this particular style.