Paul Chain
Violet Art of Improvisation

THE REVIEW

Paul Chain is a cult artist: his dark aura makes him a sort of cursed figure in the Italian music scene, comparable in some ways to the late Antonio Bartoccetti. He is best known for having founded, along with Steve Sylvester, the legendary Death SS. However, it would be reductive to confine him within the Italian heavy metal scene. His solo career is indeed full of musical masterpieces that are hard to define, all rooted in timeless art. One of the turning points of his artistic journey is the legendary double album Violet Art Of Improvisation released in 1989 by Minotauro. At the time, this record puzzled more than one critic: the material was composed of psychedelic and improvised music. In reality, Paolo Catena had a passion for the cosmic music of Klaus Schulze and for krautrock bands like the legendary Amon Düül II but also for the dark Italian prog of the '70s (he produced A Piedi Nudi, the Italian heirs of the great Balletto di Bronzo).

The A-side is occupied by the long (31 minutes) and mystical “Tetri teschi in luce viola”. The track is introduced by an organ quote from Johann Sebastian Bach: then a voice recites a litany in Latin. From here on, one of the most incredible pieces of Italian music takes off: the rhythm is metronomic and of the German school (Neu!) with a pulsating, obsessive, and pounding bass while the psychedelic guitar riffs and a crazy organ create a cathartic and surreal effect. Chain's effected voice seems to come from another dimension. About halfway through, we find the experimental sounds generated by synths creating a delirious sonic maelstrom. Then the metronomic rhythm resumes obsessively to the end of this nightmare in music. By the end of the listening, one is left stunned. The brief and tense “Emarginante viaggio” (5 minutes) preludes to another long piece (23 minutes) which is “X Ray”. The music is fluid and improvised. It's a very good jam that nevertheless doesn't reach the obsessive levels and perfection of “Tetri teschi in luce viola”. After a lysergic and acid start, the atmospheres become increasingly improvised, reminiscent of the improvisations of Amon Düül II in Yeti.

The second record, on the other hand, is composed of more conventional musical pieces that still remain of high quality. “Old Way” is a dark song that evokes gothic scenarios with the acoustic guitar and organ taking center stage and Paul Chain's voice this time in the spotlight. “Hypnosis” takes us to the realms of German cosmic music and Klaus Schulze while “Casual You Two Mister” is a track for electronics and manipulated voices that is very hypnotic and acidic. In “Celtic Rain,” we find timeless minimal and folk atmospheres. “Dedicated To Jesus” is a very effective dark-wave and horror electronic pop. Finally, “End By End” closes the circle with a church-like organ that echoes Jacula from Tardo Pede In Magiam Versus.

Violet Art Of Improvisation is a record of great music beyond possible classifications (psychedelia? experimentation? doom? gothic-rock?).