Genfuoco are an Italian prog band that was formed in Tuscany in the
early seventies. The members of the band were linked to the Gen Movement, a Christian movement founded in 1967 by Chiara Lubich to
promote among young people from all over the world a peaceful
revolution able to change hearts first and then to change society
bringing everywhere the spirit of the gospels. Genfuoco started
playing covers of other bands linked to the Gen Movement as Gen Rosso
but later they managed to shape their own sound writing original
songs in a progressive rock style that could recall bands as PFM, BMS
or Le Orme, with a good use of flute and sax. The line-up featured
Marco Borgogni (vocals, flute, guitar), Tarcisio Bratto (sax,
guitar), Franco Cecchi (keyboards), Paolo De Luca (guitar), Giovanni
De Luca (bass) and Marco Naldini (drums). They had a good live
activity all over Europe in the “Genfest circuit” and, after a
self-produced demo-tape called “Antichi confini”, in 1979 they
released an interesting album for the Catholic label Città Nuova,
“Dentro l’invisibile” (Inside the invisible). The album was
mainly distributed through Catholic bookshops and almost completely
“out of the market”. Luckily the independent record label Mellow
Records re-released the album on CD in 1992. The sound quality is not
perfect, nonetheless the music is really worth listening to...
The calm, dreamy instrumental opener “Ouverture” sets the
atmosphere. It begins with a solemn marching beat, then pastoral
acoustic passages and delicate melodies played by keyboards, electric
guitar, sax and flute follow in a perfectly balanced way...
“Dalla tana” (From the burrow) is darker and disquieting. It
describes a strange dream, a stroll through a blurred past where
ancient scimitars on the stones of a temple reflect the light and
mummies lurk in the shade. “I painted with my thoughts / What the
dark lacks...”.
The reflective “Traspare” (It shines through) is about the
ephemeral values of everyday life and the need to look for a more
spiritual way of life... “Who are you? / Things turn around you...
It shines through / Night and day / You leave your footprints on the
sand / Well, they are already vanishing into eternity / Forever...”.
“Terra promessa” (Promised Land) is a complex track in two parts,
inspired by the Holy Bible... “On the sand / In the silence / The
infinity is a breath that goes / A few men are staring / They are
walking on their footprints / The night is falling / Slow steps,
hopes and distress / Tears in the void / Many years have passed by /
And sweat dug the faces / But they keep on walking...”. Never give
up! Beyond the hills a virgin land and a new story is waiting... A
percussion passage with a Latin flavour seems to set a happy end for
people who don’t lose hope...
Next comes the meditative “Galassie” (Galaxies). The music starts
softly, featuring acoustic guitar and a soaring sax solo, then the
rhythm takes off. The lyrics invite you to the contemplation of the
stars and constellations under a sky of glass. Just try to think
about the mysteries of the cosmos... “Lost in paradise / Hanging in
space / We’re walking in a fabulous reality... Now we’re gliding
below / We fall into a vortex / We’re getting lost in the dark /
The dream is coming to an end... Let’s take back our time!”.
“La serenata del fiume” (The serenade of the river) is a
beautiful acoustic ballad that streams away in a fairy tale
atmosphere. Once upon a time the Earth was generous and the water
pure... “Like water that flows relaxed on the river / And dance
while carried away / He will gather all the flowers for you / The
flowers on the bank that have the same colour as the moon...”.
Last comes the title track “Dentro l’invisibile” (Inside the
invisible), my favourite piece on this album. It begins with a spacey
flavour, as if coming from the dark side of the moon... “Here you
are / The King is there / Fragile flower in a muddy desert / In the
night, alone, without anything / Hanging in the emptiness of the
cosmos... It’s the absurd, the separation, the cry, the scream /
Loneliness, moments of death... Who will be able to read in the
invisible? / Who will sit on the throne of deliverance? / Who will
dig beyond the abyss of the ego / And then will find himself inside
us?”. Well, the influence of Pink Floyd here is clear but the band
managed to shape an original, intense track full of spirituality.
You can listen to the complete album HERE
More info:
No comments:
Post a Comment