CRAC !

A storm of great live performances followed the release of ''Caution radiation area'', including the gigs at the Parco Lambro Festival in Milan and the first International Festival of Rovereto.Area represented Italy at the first Pop Festival of Berne and performed at the anti-war Velodromo Vigorelli event next to Joan Baez.Entering 1975 things followed the same flow with numerous live performances and the group revisiting the second Parco Lambro Festival as well as the "Festa Nazionale dell'Unità" in Florence.In November comes the third title of Area ''Crac!'', the first disc of the band to be released also outside Italy (in France).

While the previous album contained some experimental elements, the new one sees the band back into its familiar Fusion style of frenetic rhythms, complex breaks and technical executions, propelled by a very dense instrumental sound and the unique voice of Demetrio Stratos.There are moments when their sound evokes the rich electric Fusion of RETURN TO FOREVER due the powerful electric piano, but similarities stop there.Area still find room to add some Ethnic vibes into their music with all these Eastern elements displayed in the process, but their sound was definitely a unique amalgam of jazzy and progressive principles, featuring endless tempo changes and a great number of individual soloing, not isolated by the rest of the team.Plenty of clarinet and trombone and frequent use of organ, acoustic piano and synthesizer next to the constant exhibition of electric piano guarantee an emphatic and dynamic sound.Stratos' performance is again a seminar of how to use a voice like an instrument, while he even displays some poetic harmonies along the way.One of the richer Area albums, with the later tracks (like ''Gioia e rivoluzione'') showing a tendency towards more conventional tunes and a less complicated sound, although the technical efficiency is more than evident.Only reference to more experimental forms is the short ''Area 5'' with Fariselli's piano, Tavolazzi's bass and Stratos' voice in an improvised mood.

Another solid Fusion album by Area.Again, this is not an outstanding release in my books, but everything here is played with accuracy, passion and virtuosity, completing series of dense, fast-paced tracks with instrumental versatility.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.