Area
Arbeit macht frei

"The Area are among my top 10 favorite bands"...indeed, I have come to describe them this way. Exaggerated, you might say, with all the possible groups, why the Area? In reality, there is a reason. They churned out masterpieces between 1973 and 1979, in which they constantly sought to reinvent themselves, creating something accessible, but at the same time complex, without necessarily engaging in "lengthy" experimentation. I discovered the Area a few months ago while browsing the Debaser platform. About 80% of users considered them as the best Italian band of all time. Intrigued by all this, I decided to listen to this "legendary" band for the first time. I started with this album "Arbeit Macht Frei". The title intrigued me quite a bit; I would understand it after finishing the album (I knew the literal meaning but did not understand the reason for such a title for a rock album). I played the album on Spotify, and after 36 minutes, I was completely thrilled to have used my time well by listening to that masterpiece. But let's proceed in order...

The album begins with the track "July, August, September (Black)", which starts immediately with a surreal intro: an Egyptian poem opens the doors for the song. The poem is interrupted, and Demetrio Stratos comes in, with prophetic words symbolizing that the system is "playing with the world, tearing it to pieces", while the sun ages children (youth is disappearing due to societal alienation). The song changes pace immediately, while, at more or less regular intervals, Stratos tries to warn humanity, stating that one day sooner or later it will understand what it means to "drown in blood with humanity" and apologizes if he "is declaring war on humanity." The Area are wilder than ever, and following almost infernal chaos, everything stabilizes, and the beautiful "hummed song by Stratos" leads to the album's conclusion. The Area have just started, but what a start!!!

But let's continue with "Arbeit Macht Frei", kicked off by the amazing drum work of Capiozzo, while slowly the pace grows, thanks to the superb bassist Patrick Djivas and the distinctive saxophonist Busnello. Gradually, the pace increases, taking on the jazz hues already present in the previous track. The rhythm is relentless, while Stratos once again warns humanity: "In your miseries, you will recognize the meaning of an Arbeit Macht Frei," that only by suffering can man understand the suffering of other men. After eight minutes, it transitions to what is probably my favorite Area track...

"Consapevolezza", with its elevator image, wants to urge man to "soar high" with the elevator to recognize the contradictions and the malevolence of the ruthless society in which he lives. Once again, Demetrio Stratos establishes himself as the best frontman of all time, easily recognizable by his technique and his emotion, while Busnello reaffirms himself as a great saxophonist.

We then arrive at "Le Labbra Del Tempo", the fourth masterpiece in a row for "Arbeit Macht Frei," where Stratos continues to soar as he sings. As he sings, Stratos urges the listener to live freely. Paradoxical regarding the verse "The man who lost his animality in the white darkness of a foolish ideality". The rhythm increases more and more, only to abruptly stop two minutes from the end...the musical atmosphere is no longer as frenetic as before but assumes softer and calmer tones. Stratos concludes all this interpretation mightily with his powerful "I Hoooooo"...I must admit that at this point in the album, I stood up to bow before them.

"250 Chilometri da Smirne" is an instrumental piece, seven minutes long, that continuously changes time and rhythm, primarily serving to introduce the last course of this immense masterpiece...

I'm talking about "L'Abbattimento Dello Zeppelin", yet another musical masterpiece from the unruly genius Stratos. You can hear sounds that recall the flight of a Zeppelin airship", while a jumble of noises is felt, between sax, drums, while the tender and at the same time masculine voice of his height Stratos is perceived in the shadow. The rhythm suddenly continues to be fast, then slows down again, until only silence dominates. Only muffled drum beats and a very crooked sax can be heard, recalling the fall of the Zeppelin. Stratos then begins his legendary performance, recites (singing) very prophetic verses with a very sly meaning, taking a stand against the music industry or the system, as in previous tracks. Stratos' high notes pierce the time into a thousand pieces, while I, astonished, hear the Area instruments run wild, until they abruptly stop,

After 36 minutes (only), the debut album of the Area was concluded, which benefited me. While at first, I would have thought it would be a disappointment, it soon became a masterpiece for my life. I never would have believed that an Italian band was capable of surprising me in such a way as the Area did. Not only were they top in Italy, but they easily enter my top 10 favorite bands. However, the Italians don't know this masterpiece and continue to listen to those failed attempts of Vasco Rossi", "Gigi D'Alessio", and "Modà". Passing them off as poets. And I always hope, resigning myself at the same time, that Demetrio will return to show everyone who was in charge in Italy.