Teppisti Dei Sogni
Tu, Amore Mio

An interesting story is that of the Teppisti Dei Sogni. Exponents of the most saccharine and at first glance 'banal' melodic pop of the late 70s, they were born under the name 'Teppisti'. Indeed, as one of them said, the name was too committed for the genre they would later embrace and could have been easily mistaken for one of the many prog bands that were touring Italy at that time. To be clear, 'Teppisti dei Sogni' really seems to eliminate any doubt. The band revolved around the figure of Angelo Avarello, lead singer and prominent figure of the group, a true Sicilian as the group itself was. Completing the picture were Giuseppe Falletta, Tony Cannarozzo, and Ignazio Volpe. Let's be honest, their slight fame and most successful tracks date from '77 (the year their first record was released) to the early 80s, a decade that saw numerous changes that brought nothing good to the group, which soon became a basement band.

The career of the Teppisti started in 1976 when they recorded their first single which was later included on the album the following year, 'Tu, Amore Mio', which is undoubtedly what can be defined as the group's 'fundamental' record. Fundamental because the few songs of moderate success are all contained within it. Far removed from the harmony of Filiberto Ricciardi's Opera or the lyrics of Alunni del Sole, the Teppisti dei Sogni carved out a small slice of success thanks to several catchy tracks. What condemned the then young Sicilians was the repetitiveness of the songs, which, while not ugly, all remain on the same level. But let’s talk about the songs in question. It opens with 'Tu, Amore Mio', which gives the album its title, proving to be one of the most successful tracks. It's a sweet declaration of love towards a woman with whom many mistakes have been made, very catchy and smooth. The next track is undoubtedly the most famous song of the Sicilian group, I'm talking about 'Piccolo Fiore', a small radio hit of 1977, equipped with an easily graspable chorus (Piccolo fiore dove vai/ perché vai in giro per il mondo/ se ti fermassi solo un momento). A song that undoubtedly even years later could make some nostalgia seekers cry, in fact, it is a really nice track, both in structure and impact. Again, the repetitiveness of the 11 tracks is the condemnation, but mention must definitely be made of 'L'emigrante', a narration of an imminent journey in the absence of the loved woman, sweet and at times moving, and 'Bimba dagli occhi verdi', a pleasant love song in full Teppisti dei Sogni style, smooth and with a catchy chorus.

The album was undoubtedly the one that achieved the most success, even being among those considered for the award of the Gold Record in 1977. All the group's most impactful tracks are contained here, in the debut, unlike the subsequent (and numerous) other records, devoid of that standout song which would have brought them to compete in some festival. In 1977 at the Festival of the Sicilian Song, then hosted by Pippo Baudo, they won with the song 'Si Torni Tu', consolidating their position as an emerging band. A few years later Angelo Avarello left the group, focusing on solo projects, effectively declaring the death of the Sicilian band, deprived of the voice that made them what they were. Today they still tour, and appearances on local, mostly Sicilian, television are not rare, but what we are left with is a handful of really catchy and pleasant songs.