Diaframma
Demos 1982

Despite the numerous articles already written about them, it's practically impossible to stop talking about Diaframma. After the void, in terms of sales, certainly not quality, of the Nineties, the band of the ever-green Federico Fiumani has unexpectedly found itself in the spotlight in recent years, with new wave enthusiasts in their forties returning to their concerts and twenty-somethings who have heard of them on Facebook and listened to some old classic hits on YouTube.

Given the newfound success, our Federico did not miss the opportunity to be present on the record market with constant releases, both in terms of new albums and anthologies of more or less rare material, defying the crisis. The last five years have seen the Florentine group lauded from various quarters for small gems like "Difficile da Trovare" from 2009, a fresh and heartfelt album that followed a series of frankly superfluous ones, and "Niente di Serio" from 2012, which confirmed the ensemble's grace, with every time a sold-out tour. In such a context, therefore, it is no surprise that they thought of playing the "nostalgia" card, regularly releasing material aimed at a die-hard fanbase, often on vinyl and in limited editions. Indeed, the release a couple of years ago of "Imperfetta Solitudine," a beautiful double vinyl plus CD, literally brought back into circulation a classic like "In Perfetta Solitudine" from '90, albeit in demo version. More recent releases have only confirmed this trend, evidently catering to the curiosity of both those who have recently discovered the band and those suffering from an incurable Diaframma fetishism. Hence the release within a few months of "Live 1983," a collection of early concerts, all, unexpectedly, of excellent audio quality, "Studio Sessions '95-'96" and this "Demos 1982," perhaps the most representative release of the lot.

Introduced by a beautiful (perhaps intentionally?) out-of-focus photo, which turns out to be one of the most beautiful covers of their vast discography, "Demos 1982" is a tantalizing opportunity to listen to Diaframma in their original incarnation, featuring Nicola Vannini on vocals, who was soon to be replaced by Miro Sassolini, who would leave an indelible mark on albums like "Siberia" and "Tre Volte Lacrime." If this version of the band is necessarily distant from the maturity of later albums, and Fiumani's singer-songwriter turn is a good decade away, it is undeniable that all the elements that would characterize the sound of the Florentines were already well present then, drawing heavily from both Seventies punk and darker and more claustrophobic new wave, all strictly with lyrics in Italian. A quick glance at the tracklist reveals that many of the pieces present would become classics, with songs like "Illusione Ottica" still being taken on tour thirty years after their conception. Rough sound, minimal production, a lot of passion, all combined with musicians with a nervous touch and a poignant and evocative voice. Given the quality and determination, it's really hard to believe that what comes out of the stereo speakers could be the creation of a group of twenty-somethings at the beginning of their journey, such is the credibility and strength of the final result.

The road for the Florentines, amid a thousand problems, break-ups, and lineup changes, would be long and perhaps too tortuous, given the undeniable quality of their substantial discography, but in the end, thirty years on, one can say it was truly worth it. Kudos to Federico Fiumani and his determination, and "self-celebrations" of this kind should be welcomed, especially if they allow the opportunity to listen to bands of such caliber. The record was released only on vinyl, and frankly, it's a shame that many today don't have a turntable, but for everyone else, especially given the very affordable price, purchasing it at the next concert is highly recommended. As mentioned at the outset, it is a work mainly for collectors and die-hard fans, but considering the value of the work as a whole, it might also be of interest to those who have recently discovered this historic ensemble.