Fausto Rossi
L'Erba

1995

Rossi Fausto publishes his second work for TARGET. "L'Erba," which unlike the previous album almost completely rejects electronics, enough. In this new work, SOUND TOOLS, TURBOSYNTH, ALCHEMY are no longer used. This time there is a great abundance of Electric Guitars, Drums, Bass, and a series of ethnic instruments? A bit trendy in recent times. Away with the rarefied atmospheres of "Cambiano le cose" and make way for the visceral rock that our artist has inside. All the filth of the world is vomited onto us track after track until concluding the whole with a minimalist version of "Close Watch" by John Cale.

Fausto, with very long hair, appears on the cover like a new GURU, his attentive eyes look at us sideways to leave nothing to chance, seven songs with sometimes sparse musicality yet enriched by unusual sounds. "L'Erba," the title track, is indeed an anthem to the grass, closing after the journey among Tibetan sounds of "Vina e Mridangam". Obsessive with all its Saints

"Holy is the grass...
Holy is Buddha...
Holy is also money...
Holy is silence...
Holy is my heart."

Strangely, the lyrics in this album take center stage. Strangely for those who know the character.

Almost the entire album speaks of the desire to be free and oneself beyond any censorship, becoming extremely vulgar but so true in that wonderful song: "Chiudi gli occhi (la vita è un sogno)" moving to the point that Finardi upon hearing it wanted to participate in the album by joining with his harmonica

"Strange is this sunset
now at forty immersed in my dreams
while my love for you crawls.
Thus in the eyes in the stomach
and in the feet on which I rest all my body..."

Songs never banal and a resounding success, tour and at least 5000 CDs sold, and after two years "Exit," a work to topple what remained standing with "L'erba".
Even more raw lyrics and band stripped to the bone.

Three extraordinary albums in five years, a real record for Fausto.
Now after ten years of silence maybe, he has something to tell us, or maybe not, the important thing is that he continues down his path until finally closing that damned circle.

The problem with Fausto Rossi is that he is too harsh on the world and himself, and in the rare concerts I've been able to attend, there is that air of supremacy and disposition towards others that he gives off. But maybe it's just my idea.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN SPIRIT...