VENERDÌ

Warning: this is not a prog album... Since their previous album "Piccola rapsodia dell'ape" wasn't very successful, in 1982 Le Orme tried the way of easy pop to survive in the music business. Germano Serafin left the band that was reduced to a trio again. The album was produced by Roberto Colombo and Le Orme, to promote it, took part to the Sanremo Festival with the single "Marinai": "Il festival di Sanremo" is probably the best known musical happening in Italy, tightly bound to pop, major labels and music business. I still remember Aldo Tagliapietra interviewed on TV trying to justify the "commercial" choice of the band telling that "Le Orme of the year 1972 couldn't take part to the Sanremo festival of year 1972 but Le Orme of 1982 could take part to the Sanremo festival of 1982". Well, I have to say that he was not convincing at all. Actually the song "Marinai" should have been called "Marghera", and lyrics should have been about pollution and conditions of workers in Marghera (Industrial town near Venice). but lyrics were censored by the label!!! (You can find more information about this topic on the official website of Tony Pagliuca, www.tonypagliuca.com). "Marinai", though not completely bad as a pop song, wasn't a smashing hit and the "Sanremo experience" was highly disappointing for the band.

The lyrics of this album were written with the collaboration of the lyrics maker Salerno and are not particularly inspired. The music is almost not prog at all, but anyway "Venerdì" is not completely to throw away. "Rubacuori" is a nice acoustic ballad, classical oriented in the mood of "Florian" and "Piccola rapsodia dell'ape". "La notte" is not bad, another dreamy ballad with a catchy childish melody. Good also the instrumental title track that blends classical influences with a bit of electronic. "Cercherò" is a good song with an interesting drums work and the beautiful voice of Aldo Tagliapietra above all. "Biancaneve", "Arianna" and "Storie che non tornano" are interesting pop songs, but nothing special. instead "La sorte" and "Com'era bello" in my opinion are to forget...

In the whole this album is definitely a non-essential one and sometimes it sounds like weak easy pop. I can suggest it only to the fans and the collectors. After the release of a single in 1982 ("Rosso di sera"/"Sahara", probably the worst songs in the whole Le Orme's discography) the band gave up and split for a long rest. Compromise was not for them.