Cooperativa
del Latte were formed in the mid nineties in the province of Gorizia
and in 1998 released a beautiful début album, “Il risveglio”
(The awakening), on the independent label Mellow Records. The line-up
features Gabriele Benfatto (guitars, vocals), Claudio Farneti (flute,
drums, percussion), Sergio Contin (bass, vocals) and Pierluigi
Piccoli (piano, keyboards) and their sound largely draws upon 1970’s
influences but despite the vintage sounds the song-writing is good
and rich in ideas. I had the chance to see them live on stage,
opening a concert for Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, and I was favourably
impressed. I think that the excellent art work by Ivan Crico, a
painter and writer born in Gorizia, perfectly describes in autumnal
colours the reflective, crepuscular mood of this work...
The
opener “Verso i cancelli della memoria” (Towards the gates of
memory) is a kind of dive into the past for a swim against the tide,
against the doubts of an empty reality. A church-like organ sets the
atmosphere, then the rhythm takes off... “Running after myths of
wind / Looking for a living star / Overcoming a world of falsity and
appearances... Listening to the silent voice of a timeless truth...”.
“Contemplazione”
(Contemplation) is a long, melancholic track that begins softly, with
a simple, nocturnal acoustic guitar arpeggio, then a light turns on
and soaring thoughts begin to fly in the wind... A sudden change in
rhythm and the call of an ancient time rises from dreamy organ chords
inviting you to set your mind free... “Who do you think your
greatest enemy is? / It’s your own home, it’s your own body /
It’s your own mind, it’s you / Free yourself from the monsters
fed by your pride and your stupid vanity / What is the road you think
will lead you to the Right? / Even your brain is getting lost on the
paths of solitude...”.
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| Cooperativa del Latte |
“Notte
volante” (Flying night) begins on the dreamy notes of a flute and
of an acoustic guitar... “I’ve been walking for you / In the
nights of dream / Among breathing plants I followed the road smelling
of forest / Towards far bonfires / I was still sane...”. In dreams
you can even play with death but remember that dreams could turn to
nightmares... “Now there’s nothing but pain / Just powder shut in
a little box / You are my death / I live for you just because you
know how to make me laugh...”.
The
cathartic “Il respiro dell’alba” (The breath of the dawn) is
introduced by a delicate pattern featuring piano and flute. The
vocals are just whispered... “I would like to go down to the stream
/ In the early morning silence / When everything comes to a new life
/ To find again the warmth of life in the cool water...”. The
references to Le Orme are strong and in the second part of this piece
there’s even a particular vinyl sound...
“Tentazioni”
(Temptations) is more aggressive and complex and also features some
jazzy passages. Love can be deceitful and cruel, your unfaithful
lover could make you fall into the breath of an icy abyss... “Your
hand pushes me in the mud / Setting your thighs free for a new
trick...”.
“Maggio”
(May) is a short instrumental introduction to the beautiful last
track, “Indagazione strutturale” (Structural investigation). This
piece has a strong Renaissance flavour and starts “a cappella”...
“Like a tree in the forest of time or a cloud living in the sundown
/ I’m looking for something I feel I belong to...”. The lyrics
are about the eternal search for knowledge while the music could
recall some works of Angelo Branduardi with some “deep red”
acoustic passages... “I feel the weight of my pride / But I’m
walking with the curious pace of man... Before all knowledge I feel
my heart pulsing...”.
You can listen in streaming to the complete album HERE
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