Diaframma
Altrove

1983. Years when (musically) a chilly atmosphere can be felt, the new wave one. We are in Florence, and in those years, among the best new wave/dark bands were Federico Fiumani's Diaframma.
After releasing a 7" in 1982 called "Pioggia/Illusione ottica", a 7" in 1982 included with a post-industrial fanzine "Free 8212" containing "Circuito chiuso", a live version of "Illusione ottica" on "rockgarage vol2" in 1983 and a "Specchi d'acqua" for an LP called "Body section" (included with Rockerilla) also in 1983, they released this fantastic 12" EP, containing 4 tracks very similar in approach to the previous ones already on vinyl, but this time with some synth inserts by Maurizio Fasolo of Pankow.
The cover is already very well crafted and immediately catches the attention... it features "Melodia" by Tranquillo Cremona, an artist associated with the "scapigliatura" movement from the second half of the 1800s. The back of the record is also very detailed, where the four lyrics are printed in yellow on a black background, along with the names of the band members and various credits. Inside, there are two very gloomy photos... one portrays Vannini (Nicola, the vocalist) during a show, reminiscent of the beloved Ian Curtis of Joy Division; the other features the four musicians in a photo pose under the winter darkness of cold Florence.

We put on the record, place the needle, and a track starts that will remain indelible in our minds... "Effetto notte".
A tribal drum and bass line (the rhythm section is entrusted to the Cicchi brothers), with Fiumani's sharp guitar. Dark visions of life can be sensed from the lyrics sung by Vannini (... "I feel detached from the ground, I can only see the infinite shades of black and die in a breath..."). Side A closes with the instrumental part 1 of "Pop art", about 2'17" of guitar and synth arpeggios.
We turn the 12" over and "Pop art" part 2 starts. Another frenetic song, with Vannini chanting a visionary and meditative vocal, with echo effects on the pronunciation of "Pop art...art...art" and splendid bass lines, into which minimal yet highly effective Fender Telecaster riffs fit, as befits this "paintbrush" song.
The third track is "Xaviera Hollander", starting with the tapping of sticks on the snare, until the magical Fiumani intervenes with his chords, which only he can create. A more introspective, sentimental piece, "about the actions of a bored woman" (as the lyrics state).
The melancholy and furthest type of song from the others "Altrove" closes it, but it's closer to the next and legendary "Siberia". The initial chords are now legendary, many define it as Diaframma's "Transmission"....
A poignant text, "I don't feel like getting up or opening the door, starting to live is just a memory". A video clip was also made for this song, one of the first in Italy, directed by Toni Verità (the same as "Dea" by Litfiba, n.d.r.) with the four "gray-dressed" sitting staring at the camera, with a TV behind them showing erotic images (most likely of the same and authentic "Xaviera Hollander").

With this EP, the collaboration with Nicola Vannini on vocals ends, later replaced by the historical Miro Sassolini. He was let go by Fiumani himself because he allegedly shamelessly imitated Ian Curtis and they were tired of the constant comparisons with Joy Division. Soon after, he would found the "Soul Hunters", with whom he would release some records halfway between new wave and psychedelia. But the big break would only come in the '90s when he founded "Audioglobe", today one of the leading companies in independent distribution.
Remember a reunion with Vannini and Fiumani at the "Flog" in Florence in 1993, for the Controradio party. They performed: "Ceremony" by Joy Division, "Illusione ottica", and an uncertain and embarrassing (for Vannini) "Siberia".