Campo di Marte was one of the many one-shot bands of the Italian prog scene of the early seventies. It was mainly the brainchild of composer and guitarist Enrico Rosa who gathered around him a bunch of talented and “classical trained” musicians as Alfredo Barducci (horns, piano, organ, vocals), Richard Ursillo aka Paul Richard (bass, vocals), Mauro Sarti (drums, percussion, flute, vocals) and Carlo Felice Marcovecchio (drums, percussion, vocals). They were based in Tuscany and the name of the band was inspired by a suburb of Florence. Campo di Marte means Field Of Mars, and Mars was also the Roman god of war so, according to Enrico Rosa, “the name was used as an excuse to write lyrics on the stupidity of wars, and a picture of Turkish mercenary soldiers stabbing themselves with all kinds of weapons to demonstrate their strength and receive higher wages was chosen for the cover” (Quote from an interview on the site italianprog.com).
The original concept was in some way distorted by the label in 1973 and the band had to change the titles and the order of the tracks for commercial reasons. The remastered re-release by AMS Vinyl Magic (BTF) (AMS 101 CD) in 2006 restored the original project and the result is wonderful. The sound quality is excellent and the original project is explained in the booklet through comprehensive liner notes in Italian and in English...
On the restored version, the album opens with the instrumental “V° Tempo” (originally named “Prologo Parte I”) where you can find a pastoral atmosphere that could recall bands as Amazing Blondel and Gryphon. The piece is introduced by acoustic guitar and flute and the mood is peaceful and joyful...
On the restored version, the album opens with the instrumental “V° Tempo” (originally named “Prologo Parte I”) where you can find a pastoral atmosphere that could recall bands as Amazing Blondel and Gryphon. The piece is introduced by acoustic guitar and flute and the mood is peaceful and joyful...
On the second track “VI° Tempo” (originally named “Prologo Parte II”), the sound of the electric guitar and a heavy marching beat tries to evoke the effects of a marching army with horns and drums “playing war anthems”. Peace is broken and war is raging but on this piece there’s also a short lyrical interlude where dreamy vocals invite you to search for the truth and to give credit to the people... “You will touch with your hands / Days full of sweetness / You will discover in everyone else / Another one like you...”. The “black magic” of war keeps on storming on the third track, the long instrumental “VII° Tempo” (originally named “Prologo Parte III”), where frenzied rhythms and gloomy atmospheres prevail...
The fourth track, “I° Tempo” (originally named “Riflessione Parte I”), begins with the electric guitar in the forefront and heavy rhythms, but after awhile the “storm” gives way to a tense, bitter reflection about the effects of war... “I remember that lawn / Covered with flowers / I was happily running / In the light of the sun... Now I can see that place again / Thousands of crosses / Cover the lawn / Blacken the sun... Unaware men / Get the bones / The only harvest / Of so many crazy sowings...”.
From the book Rock Progressivo Italiano: an introduction to Italian Progressive Rock
You can listen to the complete album HERE
Campo di Marte: Campo di Marte (1973). Other opinions:
Jim Russell: All in all this is a tasty morsel that is probably essential if you're building an Italian genre collection. For the wider site it's a recommended title for fans of early 70s rock mixing acoustic and electric guitars and flute like Tull... (Read the complete review HERE)
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