SCHIERE DI SUDDITI

La Cruna del Lago took form in 2021 in Barberino Val d'Elsa, near Florence, Tuscany, on the initiative of four experienced musicians previously involved in other projects: Andrea Bruni (drums, backing vocals), Matteo Tuci (bass), Pino Polistina (guitars, vocals) and Carmelo Junior Arena (lead vocals, keyboards). In particular, Andrea Bruni, Pino Polistina and Carmelo Junior Arena were part of Il Rovescio della Medaglia's line up that in 2018 recorded the live album "Contaminazione 2.0", so it's no wonder that the sound of this new project mainly draws on seventies influences although with a modern touch. The band soon started composing original pieces and in 2022 they self-released a very interesting debut album entitled "Schiere di sudditi" (Hosts of subjects) showcasing great musicianship and good songwriting skills. According to the band, it's a committed concept album dealing with the consequences of a declining society where there are still people who refuse the conformism and keep on fighting for their freedom. The art work by Carmelo Junior Arena and Piera Arena tries to give an idea of the musical and lyrical content...

The excellent opener "Giostra" (Carousel) evokes an irrepressible desire of freedom. The music and words conjure up the image of an inner carousel that spins inside the mind of the protagonist pushing him to take the long path of the time to come. The wind is blowing through steps and dust and he tries to see beyond the limit, between continents of fear and madness, where dark shadows hide hosts of subjects chained to a new reality...

"La mantide agnostica" (The agnostic mantis) depicts in music and words the desire of jumping boldly up like a green mantis to fly over a world that's going wrong, suffocated by falsity and oblivion, where dignity gives way to madness. From the sky, the protagonist now can see a strange panorama below him. Freedom is in ashes, tyranny and hypocrisy rule, people blindly follow old formulas and there's no room for poetry but the protagonist can still sing and look for happiness and feels that the hope of a new humanity is going to rise...

The melancholic "Illogica distanza" (Illogical distance) is an acoustic, reflective piece that depicts the crepuscular atmosphere of a cold, silent winter night where the protagonist is filled with a strong sense of nostalgia while thinking of his distant sweetheart. The gloomy present seems crucifying his desires as the wind makes the fallen leaves merrily dance, then his dreams take off and get lost in the clouds over the roofs...

The calm "Interludio" (Interlude) is a delicate instrumental track that leads to "ElettroDrama", a piece tinged of electronic sounds that evokes gloomy visions from a future without freedom. Signals from the heart, spectral waves and cerebral blackouts are breaking the thoughts as men are falling into pain, faithless...

The aggressive, almost threatening "Stato" (State) features lyrics revolving about the many meanings of the word state while the following "Acqua da Marte" (Water from Mars) depicts in music and words an eternal battle for freedom against a resilient enemy. Under a pouring rain you the protagonist wonders if the raindrops are just tears from the sky or water from Mars that can give hope...

A radio edit version of "Stato" ends this interesting work that is really worth listening to.