Arti e Mestieri are one of the best known Italian prog bands and have
been active since 1973. They come from Turin and were formed on the
initiative of Furio Chirico (former drummer of The Trip) who met with
keyboardist Beppe Crovella (former member of a band called The
Mystics) and four musicians from a jazz rock band called Il Sogno di
Archimede, Gigi Venegoni (guitar), Giovanni Vigliar (violin, vocals),
Marco Gallesi (bass) and Arturo Vitale (sax, vibraphone). In 1974
they released their debut album for the independent label Cramps,
“Tilt – Immagini per un orecchio” (Tilt – Images for an ear),
a brilliant mix of rock, jazz, classical, Mediterranean influences
and melodic passages. The art cover by Gianni Sassi, featuring a
flying funnel in a blue sky among white clouds, in some way describes
the overall sound of this work where many influences floating in the
air are caught and channelled through this conical utensil with a
narrow tube at its apex to be blended and conveyed on the tracks of
the album.
The
title of the instrumental opener “Gravità 9,81” (Gravity 9.81)
is inspired by the formula of the law of gravity. Ignoring air
resistance, an object falling freely near the Earth’s surface
increases its velocity at 9.81 m/s (32.2 ft/s or 22 mph)
for each second of its descent. As gravitation causes dispersed
matter to coalesce, on this track the creativity of the band
perfectly blends the Mediterranean touches of colour evoked by the
violin with a pulsing rhythm section and a jazzy sax solo. This piece
is now an authentic trademark of the band.
Next
comes “Strips”, where the dreamy, romantic mood of the music
contrasts with the bitter disenchantment of the lyrics condemning a
reality of empty conventions, of absurdities filling your head, of
languid songs and artists whispering useless words, of faded stories
about planets, wizards and gods...
“Corrosione”
(Corrosion) is a kind of short bridge leading to the beautiful
instrumental “Positivo/Negativo” (Positive/Negative) where an
initial solar, dreamy part, featuring acoustic guitar and violin,
gives way to a second part full of energy, featuring a great rhythm
section and good electric guitar work.
“In
cammino” (Walking) is another excellent instrumental that opens
with a melancholic sax introduction, then the rhythm takes off and
the melancholy melts into joyful passages where the members of the
band showcase their musicianship. On the original LP it was the last
track of side A.
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| Arti e Mestieri 1974 |
Next
comes the short instrumental “Farenheit”, where the rhythm goes
slowly up as the temperature of a thermometer introducing “le plat
de resistance” of the album, the long, complex suite
“Articolazione” (Articulation), a piece about the need to live
the present facing reality. There’s no time you can waste waiting
dreaming for better days while Death is leading to the grave all her
dear lovers... “It’s not because you think you have understood /
That your future is going to change / In the mirror you must see /
What is harder to see...”.
The
experimental “Tilt”, almost an example of “musique concrète”,
concludes an excellent album where the music flows away without weak
moments.
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