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Rating:
Florence, 1985.
"Desaparecido" is the first album in the official discography of Litfiba: how many words can be used for this album? Fascinating? Dense? Ethnic? Extreme? A blend of skillful musical savoir-faire offers our grateful ears eight songs of fine quality; the only flaw in my opinion is the short duration of the ensemble, which barely touches thirty minutes. Refined new wave with references to Joy Division and Bauhaus (especially in the voice), without forgetting the Cure of Robert Smith, who always linger in the early Litfiba productions. Sung in Italian, a proof of commendable courage in an era even more filled than ours with xenophilia and snobbery for the made in Italy product.
The opening track is "Eroi nel vento", a song that rightfully will become a classic of Litfiba first and of the Pelù-Renzulli duo (albeit revisited) later. Classy new wave with a syncopated and pounding drum and a highly evocative vocal. It gives way to "La preda", a piece that Pelù dedicates, in a very hermetic manner, to the conflictual relationship with his father. The song is a product of the evident punk influences of Renzulli. The bass work by Gianni Maroccolo is commendable.
"Lulù e Marlène" appears to our hearing as a confused LSD trip (a substance that actually helped Piero in composing this text), with an imposing bass and keyboard riff dominating. The next song, "Istambul", is instead born from the love, never hidden and never denied, of our artists for certain ethnic sounds that will also accompany many future compositions. It is followed by "Tziganata", supported by elegant keyboards and bass riffs of precious quality; "Pioggia di luce", also a product of lysergic acid, will gain greater maturity live, while the lyrics are discreetly played on the musical idea of "lostness". The title track, "Desaparecido", even more than "Istambul", is an extremely ethnic and Mediterranean piece, with castanet sounds and a truly impressive rhythmic section. Closing this, alas, short work, we find "Guerra", another song of strong evocative and sound impact. As in almost the whole album, here too the sound play is supported by the expert Maroccolo and the refined Antonio Aiazzi, not forgetting the precise and imaginative rhythmic work of the never too mentioned Ringo De Palma.
In conclusion, this album is truly unique, elegant, refined, and well-crafted. Perhaps a bit too pretentious, but the result does justice to the intentions. A pity for its short length, given the volume of work that Litfiba was carrying with them since 1980. It remains, however, an album that must (MUST!) be remembered as one of the very first steps for a certain way of seeing music in Italy.
Band:
Antonio Aiazzi - Keyboards
Ringo De Palma - Drums
Gianni Maroccolo - Bass
Piero Pelù - Vocals
Ghigo Renzulli - Guitar
G. C.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
02 La preda (02:50)
Vai
La nebbia ha un corpo leggero
E tu vai
Non senti quella voce dice "Dove vai!"
Vai Affilatissimo stiletto tu hai
Con lama a doppio taglio "Credi che ce la farai?"
Sei
In ombra solo nasconderti non puoi
Salvarti oramai e` tardi
Sei
In agguato la preda tua e` li`
Ma tu gli dai le spalle
Credi che ce la farai
Vai!
Ce la farai
Affilatissimo stiletto tu hai
Con lama a doppio taglio "Credi che ce la farai?"
Vai!
Credevi di cacciare ma adesso la preda sei tu sei tu
Credevi di cacciare ma adesso la preda sei tu, yeah
Credevi di cacciare ma adesso la preda sei tu
Credevi di cacciare ma adesso la preda sei tu
04 Istambul (05:42)
Ringrazio il signore
Padrone dell' Universo
Misericordioso e compassionevole
Onnipotente
Nel giorno del giudizio
A te Rivolgiamo la nostra preghiera
E a te chiediamo l' aiuto
Indicaci la strada giusta
La strada giusta '
Ho viaggiato nel freddo
Faccia a faccia con la mia
Ombra che si gettava
Nel bianco velo del tempo
Istambul Istambul
Ho viaggiato nel freddo
Senza volto senza eta`
Pilotando un
Corpo senza guida a Istambul,
Istambul
Istambul baluardo sacro per
L' incrocio delle razze degli uomini bruciera`
L' ho cercato nel freddo
Se ne stava solo la`
Il mio volto nel fango di Istambul,
Istambul Istambul baluardo sacro per
L' incrocio delle razze degli uomini brucera`
Istambul, Istambul
Forze oscure in Istambul
Istambul, Istambul
Forze oscure in Istambul
Istambul, Istambul
05 Tziganata (02:54)
Eva ballava sul fuoco
Profumo di sesso attorno a se`
Eva ballava sul fuoco
La notte in cui nacque l'odio
Tzigano, Tzigano
Eva ballava sul fuoco
Profumo di sesso attorno a se`
Eva ballava sul fuoco
La notte in cui nacque l'odio
Rubava i loro cuori
Tzigani
Eva ballava sul fuoco
Profumo di sesso attorno a se`
Tzigano, Tzigano
Eva ballava sul fuoco
Profumo di sesso attorno a se'
07 Desaparecido (03:23)
Sotto il ponte scorre l' acqua e
Sempre acqua e`
Davanti agli occhi il sole
Sempre sole e`
Nelle mani terra
E terra e`
Ooohh!
DESAPARECIDO
Senza aria senza sole
Resta oscurita` e
L' uomo vive un sogno
Fatto di silenzi
Sognera` la terra e
Terra e`
OH! OH! OH!
DESAPARECIDO
E terra e`
Sogna il velo di una donna
E quando lo riavra`
"Davanti agli occhi
Ho il sole
Sempre sole e`
Terra nelle mani!"
E terra e`
OH! OH! OH!
DESAPARECIDO
Io sono aria e sole
I silenzi che scavano ...
DESAPARECIDO DESAPARECIDO
08 Guerra (05:29)
------
EIN ZWEI DREI VIER
DER KRIEG!
EIN ZWEI DREI VIER
FEUER!
Guardo
Oltre il muro di vetro
L' esercito che passa
Uomini neri!
Cerco
In una mano chiusa
La causa della morte di
Uomini neri!
GUERRA
Aria vuota nelle strade
Si muovono le ombre di
Uomini neri!
GUERRA
Ma che cosa mi succede
E dove sono gli occhi di
Uomini neri!
Uomini neri uh oh!
Uomini neri
e` GUERRA e` GUERRA e` GUERRA
` E VOLA .... IN ALTO .... FINO ........ A D I O ! ! ! ! `
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Other reviews
By frantz
"Desaparecido is the essential starting point for what would become the new Italian rock."
"Songs have become real anthems for their many fans, still performed today."
By Aerith
From the very first track, you understand you’re dealing with a masterpiece: Eroi nel Vento is a true statement of intent.
You’re left there still, reflecting on the journey around the world in eight tracks that is this album... and wondering what could have happened afterward.
By ms
"Litfiba managed to carve an enormous piece of music as feeling and as importance in the Italian rock scene."
"Desaparecido paved the way for a new course and new mindset approach in our peninsula."
By COX
In the nine tracks of 'desaparecido', the heavy bass of Maroccolo, the wise guitar of Renzulli, the cheeky and essential keyboards of Aiazzi, and the cannon-like voice of Pelù have created something unique and unrepeatable.
'Istanbul' is the track that... leaves me the most stunned... with a delightful keyboard and voices echoing phrases with a Middle Eastern taste.
By Treasure
"Desaparecido is an album that speaks in very current terms (of war, hatred, and injustices perpetrated for reasons of state), yet it does so in such a poetic and almost theatrical manner."
"Listening to Desaparecido is like alternating readings of Iliad and Odyssey. The emotion is the same: a sense of archaic, epic, intense, now dramatic, now softened in the sweetness of the atmospheres."
