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scumflesh View Drop Down
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Points: 79 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: AREA Appreciation Thread
    Posted: July 24 2016 at 10:40
This topic is about the italian progressive rock/ jazz band from the 70's and 80's.

I'm surprised peoples often aren't familiar with this band,
because some album such as "Crac!" are very very good.

Your thoughts about them?
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micky View Drop Down
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Points: 46838 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 10:49
Originally posted by scumflesh scumflesh wrote:

This topic is about the italian progressive rock/ jazz band from the 70's and 80's.

I'm surprised peoples often aren't familiar with this band,
because some album such as "Crac!" are very very good.

Your thoughts about them?







thoughts?  Another one that is not as obscure as you think it might be. This site is the internet home for progressive rock you know and few bands were as good and talented as this one.  After 10 years of having some strong personalities, and passionate ones at that sing their praises.. if people don't know about them it is only because they have their asses firmly planted on the toilet of hum dum mediocre English prog...
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Points: 37598 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 10:51
I love Area, and it's one of my favourite bands. There are quite a number of Area fans here. If I were to choose one album by Area, it would be Caution Radiation Area (not a very popular album).

Edited by Logan - July 24 2016 at 10:55
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Points: 79 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 10:54
Already two peoples that dig them very much :)

This said, would you say area played prog, jazz... Or something in the middle?
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Points: 46838 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 10:58
something very much in the middle..

want to get me hot and bothered.. call them a fusion band. They were SO much more than just typical fusion pratter and musical masturbation... very strong folk, experimental and avant-garde elements to create what was.. obviously a very unique sound and group.
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Points: 46838 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 10:59
Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

it would be Caution Radiation Area (not a very popular album).


but also my favorite as well
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Points: 37598 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 11:04
Cool.

Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

something very much in the middle..

want to get me hot and bothered.. call them a fusion band. They were SO much more than just typical fusion pratter and musical masturbation... very strong folk, experimental and avant-garde elements to create what was.. obviously a very unique sound and group.


Yep, they played jazz infused progressive rock. In terms of categories we at this site use to categorise music, they straddle Rock Progressivo Italiano, Jazz-rock/ Fusion and Avant Prog, which makes them Eclectic Prog in a sense.

Edited by Logan - July 24 2016 at 11:06
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Points: 79 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 11:08
Very nice topic! Clap
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Points: 46838 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 11:08
or musically what we call eclectic if not for the obvious socio-political element which was as strong as any musical element... which planted them completely and squarely in R.P.I. I was prepared to fight anyone and everyone on that..thankfully Martin saw my P.O.V.. naturally he was a sharp one not given to snap half ass clasfications.. and let me have the group.
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Points: 15347 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 11:24
Personally one of my all times favorite bands. They had an energy and style unlike any other. The first four albums are masterpieces for me, the fifth is excellent and the rest after the death of Stratos are utter generic crap
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Points: 15347 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 11:25
I still haven't heard the latest live release. Anyone have any opinions?
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Points: 21362 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 11:59
Big fan of the band though I need to explore a lots more, I only currently have Arbeit Macht Frei & Crac!
Ian

Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com

https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/
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Points: 1789 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 12:34
Crac! is one of my favorites by them, although I have grown fond of 1978 also.

Stratos' singing style are some of the coolest, wildest, strangest, and good vocals you will ever hear.

Have not heard any of the live releases mentioned above.


Edited by AEProgman - July 24 2016 at 12:35
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Points: 37598 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 12:44
Originally posted by Nogbad_The_Bad Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:

Big fan of the band though I need to explore a lots more, I only currently have Arbeit Macht Frei & Crac!


For an Avanteer, Caution Radiation Area is well-worth exploring.
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Points: 12541 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 24 2016 at 15:00
Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

Cool.

Originally posted by micky micky wrote:

something very much in the middle..

want to get me hot and bothered.. call them a fusion band. They were SO much more than just typical fusion pratter and musical masturbation... very strong folk, experimental and avant-garde elements to create what was.. obviously a very unique sound and group.


Yep, they played jazz infused progressive rock. In terms of categories we at this site use to categorise music, they straddle Rock Progressivo Italiano, Jazz-rock/ Fusion and Avant Prog, which makes them Eclectic Prog in a sense.

+ often a distinct Middle Eastern twang to their riff - but in a very different way the more typical psychedelic/krautrock-raga inspired rock. I'm certain Area would have been considered a RIO-band if they had been invited to any of the two original RIO-festivals. Politically and musically they would have fitted in perfectly. That said I'm kind of pleased that I don't have to relate to their lyrics.

My favorite album is also Caution Radiation Area (grown more and more fond of their debut lately though) - but everything up to 1978 is pretty much perfect. 
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Points: 10841 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 25 2016 at 04:23
I have 3 albums of the band ("Arbeit Macht Frei", "Are(A)zione", "Parigi-Lisbona"), but I don't listen to them frequently: I have some difficulties to concentrate on their most experimental improvisations (which is strange, since I don't mind listening to free jazz or electronic music).
Well, I suppose I just should listen exclusively these 3 albums form now on...
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Points: 441 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2016 at 11:25
Since having listened their 3 first albums I stopped listening Mahavishnu.  AREA is from a different planet.

The best rock/jazz/avant/ethnic stuff ever put on record. Demetrio Stratos is a genius, hyper voice/excellent keyboardist/performer. His political persona doesnīt mean absolutely nothing to me personally, the music and music only matters. I call it musical acrobatics. All albums are masterpieces. "Maledetti" (maudits) is sheer musical madness.

I still do listen early Weather Report occasionally but AREA is the beast. The Italian Beast.


Edited by Son.of.Tiresias - October 26 2016 at 11:27
You may see a smile on Tony Banksī face but thatīs unlikely.
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Points: 5111 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 27 2016 at 16:45
Not one of those bands that are rad because they broke the rules. Area played like they never knew there were any rules in existence, except maybe for the ones they made up for themselves as they went along. First four albums are essential documents of music, whether you could care less about prog or not. I love them.
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Points: 7251 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 28 2016 at 00:58
Love that band. The first four and more (Maladetti, 78...). I have a special feeling for Arbeit Mach Frei . 
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Points: 1409 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 28 2016 at 01:15
I discovered this band a few months ago through YouTube, they are definitely a fun band with some great things happening in their music Smile
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