ARBEIT MACHT FREI

A bona fide, certifiable masterpiece! From Italia! And not RPI! The mixing and recording of this album are amazingly clear and balanced for a 70s record. Though the album opens with an obviously ethnic folk-based tune, "Luglio, ..." (8/10), and the last song, "L'abbattimento ..." (8/10) leans heavily toward the avante garde, the center three songs, "Arbeit..." (9/10), "Consapevolezza " (10/10), and "240 chilometri..." (10/10), deposit, IMHO, some of the tightest, most enjoyable jazz grooves of the 60s or 70s. All performers test the creative boundaries of their respective means of expressivity--voice (à la LEON THOMAS), guitars, woodwinds, keys, bass, and even drums are all "out there." The grooves laid down in "Consapevolezza" at the 1:25 and 2:15 marks are among the prettiest I've ever heard.

Having loved the vocal talents and stylings of Leon Thomas for many years, I was immediately into Demetrio Stratus's singing. Such emotion and passion! As if his soul is on fire! Without question a masterpiece of progressive music if ever there was one!