Aidala
Oltre-Passo

The year was 1988 and a shy and unknown singer-songwriter named Aidala appeared on the music scene with a vinyl EP that probably went almost unnoticed, but managed to spark interest among the few who were lucky enough to listen to it.

"Oltre-Passo" was released under the Alt Music label, a minor line from the Liguria-based Videostar, offering two tracks per side packaged in a glossy cardboard cover illustrating (in ink) a sort of puppet man and the lyrics of the four songs, written very small except for the title track.

One might say it was a semi-amateur product. But upon listening, it made a good impact, with an original sound and above all an engaging atmosphere.

"Spirit" - the opening track - certainly the best track. An enticing drum machine, a rhythm around 100 bpm, a piano similar to a keyboard, with a dreamy and disillusioned voice of someone who has a lot of stories to tell... and contrasts them with a beautiful clarinet that at a certain point grants a rather nice solo. The lyrics are autobiographical in style, somewhat cryptic, hinting at a youth between discomfort and dreams and an otherworldly aspiration.

It's no coincidence that the title of the EP and the closing track is "Oltre-Passo", a desire to go beyond and break free from something that holds or perhaps oppresses. In the middle, there are two other piano and vocal digressions suspended between singer-songwriter sentiments and a jazz nuance, which, however, contains nothing traditionally jazzy. There are reminiscences of the very early Decibel, of a sweetened Faust'o, yet without suggesting a defined background. In short, a handful of ballads sung sometimes in English (with translation) and sometimes in Italian that leave a feeling of both bitterness and hope.

What is certain is that this Turin native, Aidala, beyond his musical compositions, did not give much opportunity to know more about him. And it's a pity because over time he could have told us many interesting moments through song. We know that he was involved in various rock bands from Piedmont and that he also worked on theatrical performances. A one-man band who managed his arrangements well and had taste. Nothing groundbreaking, but tastier than many other pseudo-intellectual singers who, from the ashes of the Italian new wave, tried to recycle a now worn and self-congratulatory state of mind.