Area
Arbeit macht frei

"Area are among my top 10 favorite bands"... yes, I even came to define them this way. Exaggerated, you might say, with all the possible bands, why specifically Area? In reality, there's a reason. They produced masterpieces between 1973 and 1979, constantly trying to reinvent themselves, creating something accessible, yet at the same time complex, without having to necessarily engage in "prolix" experimentation. I discovered Area a few months ago while browsing the Debaser platform. About 80% of the 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 didn't understand the reason for such a title for a rock album). I played the album on Spotify and after 36 minutes, I was completely enthusiastic about having used that time well which I had set aside to listen to that masterpiece. But let's go in order...

The album begins with the track "Luglio, Agosto, Settembre (nero)", which immediately starts with a surreal intro: an Egyptian poem opens the doors for the song. The poem stops, and Demetrio Stratos enters, with prophetic words symbolizing the fact that the system is "playing with the world, tearing it apart", while the sun makes children old (youth is disappearing due to societal alienation). The song changes rhythm immediately, while at more or less regular intervals, Stratos tries to warn mankind, stating that sooner or later, they will understand what it means "to drown in blood with humanity" and apologizes if "he is declaring war on humanity". The Area are more unrestrained than ever, and following an almost infernal chaos, everything stabilizes, leading to the wonderful "canticchiata" by Stratos", bringing the album to a conclusion. The Area have just started, but what a start!!!

But let's continue with "Arbeit Macht Frei", opened by the incredible drum work of Capiozzo, while little by little the rhythm grows, thanks to the superb bassist Patrick Djivas and the noteworthy saxophonist Busnello. Little by little the rhythm grows, taking on the jazz nuances already present in the previous track. The rhythm is driving, while Stratos once again warns mankind: "In your misery, 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, we move on to what is probably my favorite Area track...

"Consapevolezza", with its image of the elevator, encourages man to "fly high" with the elevator, to recognize the contradictions and the evilness of the ruthless society in which he lives. Again, Demetrio Stratos establishes himself as the greatest front-man of all time, easily recognizable for his technique and his emotionality, while Busnello once more asserts himself as a great saxophonist.

We then arrive at "Le Labbra Del Tempo", the fourth masterpiece in a row from "Arbeit Macht Frei", where Stratos continues to soar while singing. While singing, Stratos urges the listener to live free. The paradoxical line: "The man who lost his animality in the white darkness of an idiotic ideal" is quite noteworthy. The rhythm rises more and more, until it suddenly stops two minutes from the end... the musical atmosphere is no longer frenetic like before, but takes on more languid and calm tones. Stratos concludes this interpretation in style with his powerful "Io Hoooooo"... I must admit that at this point in the album, I stood up to bow before them.

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

I am talking about "L'Abbattimento Dello Zeppelin", another musical masterpiece from the unhinged genius of Stratos. You can hear sounds reminiscent of a Zeppelin airship" flight, while a tangle of noises unfolds between the sax and drums, while in the shadows you can perceive the tender yet masculine voice of his highness Stratos. The rhythm suddenly continues to be fast, then slows down, until only silence dominates. You can hear only dull sounds from the drums and a very shaky sax that evokes the fall of the Zeppelin. Stratos then begins his legendary performance, reciting (singing) very prophetic verses with a very sneaky meaning, standing against the music industry or the system, as in the previous tracks. Stratos' high notes tear time into a thousand pieces, while I, astonished, hear the Area's instruments going wild, until they suddenly stop,

After 36 minutes (only) the debut album of Area was over, and it had benefited me. While at first, I thought this would be a disappointment, it immediately became a masterpiece for my life. I never would have believed that an Italian band could amaze me in such a way as Area did. Not only were they the top in Italy, but they comfortably entered my top 10 favorite bands. However, the Italian public does not know this masterpiece and continues to listen to those missed mishaps like Vasco Rossi","Gigi D'Alessio" and "Modà". By passing them off as poets. And I always hope, while resigning myself at the same time, that Demetrio returns to make everyone understand who was in charge in Italy.