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Area

Musical Group
Forlisteners into progressive rock, free jazz, avant-garde experimentation, politically charged 1970s music, and vocal technique nerds.
25 Reviews 59 Definitions 79 Charts

The Profile

Area (also known as Area International POPular Group) are described in the reviews as a highly experimental and politicized Italian band blending progressive rock with free jazz, avant-garde techniques, electronics, and Mediterranean/Middle Eastern influences, strongly associated with vocalist Demetrio Stratos and lyric/producer figure Gianni Sassi.

From the reviews: the classic core is repeatedly identified with Demetrio Stratos (vocals), Patrizio Fariselli (keyboards), Giulio Capiozzo (drums), Ares Tavolazzi (bass), Paolo/Giampaolo Tofani (guitar/electronics), and (early) Patrick Djivas and Victor Busnello; Gianni Sassi is cited as producer/lyricist (pseudonym "Frankenstein") and key ideologist. Stratos is stated to have died June 13, 1979 of leukemia. Albums discussed include Arbeit Macht Frei (1973), Caution Radiation Area (1974), Crac (1975), Maledetti (Maudits) (1976), live releases (Are(a)zione, Concerto Teatro Uomo, Parigi-Lisbona, Event '76), and later instrumental-leaning works (Tic & Tac (1980), Chernobyl 7991 (1997)).

Across these reviews, Area are portrayed as a uniquely experimental and politicized Italian band, merging progressive rock with free jazz, electronics and Mediterranean/Middle Eastern influences. A recurring focus is Demetrio Stratos’ revolutionary approach to voice (diphony/triphony, extreme range) and the band’s high-level musicianship. The early-to-late 1970s run (notably 1973–1979) is repeatedly framed as their peak, with several albums called masterpieces. Live recordings are valued as proof of their “war machine” intensity and improvisational daring. A post-Stratos continuation is discussed as mostly instrumental and still worthwhile, but inevitably different.

Who knows Area?

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