A SAGA DE CLARA CROCODILO

Shame on all of you prog fans for not having heard this one!! This is a live album, containing songs from the totally Avant-guarde 1980 "Clara Crocodilo". I'll tell you: Zappa would think again if he heard this album, or any other Arrigo's. The level of expressivity and musical virtuosism (composition and execution) is something I had never heard before!!! As I Said, this is a live album arranged for string quartet, winds and rock band. Arrigo plays Piano on this one too. the composition are totally atonal, dealing with serialism and twelve tone technique. As a musician, I think it's out of any question trying to play it, unless you can read sheets as a maestro. Anyway, another very strong point of this album is the lyrics. Arrigo loved comix and based most of the themes of his songs (the form of the text really) on them. Arrigo's lyrics describe dark, smoky and dirty places, men with prostitutes, aberrations, sexual deprivation and so on. Its a very urban, apocalyptical scenario, but humoristic too. Arrigo lived in São Paulo, the biggest city in South America and one of the biggest in the world (4th or 5th maybe). Try to find the lyrics in english if you can, you will know what i'm saying. The album finishes with the Clara Crocodilo suite, the story of an ofiice-boy that turns into this strange monster. The arrangement of this part is an astonishing composition, with frightening, tense moments and explosions... An expressionist, I might say. This is an album for advanced prog (and music in general) listeners. I couldn't say more about it. Listen to it and tell me I'm wrong!! More than 5 stars!!!!!!

See Ya!

Review nº 216

Arrigo Barnabé - Clara Crocodilo (late live version)

*please read my extended review for the original album if interested in more information

Exactly after 20 years, Clara Crocodilo was ressurected for a live presentation! This CD is somehow easier and cheap to get, since the original album is out of print and its copies (any format) could be found around 350-400 bucks. The composition is the same, but the line-up and arrangement got very different. There's no way to compare the albums. Each one has its own charm. Of course I prefer the original one, but I already heard it too much, so this live different piece sounds more interesting and enigmatic. A highlight point for me was the structure and distribution of the work. As you can see, the B-Side of the original album was listed as a suite divided by parts, and the even the Clara Crocodilo titled song was split in tracks. The tracklist is re-named but the songs are the same. The different vocal casting added a catchy and intriguing aspect for those who knows the late 70s release. Here is an alternative way to a classic masterpiece. But remains as excelent as before. How could I rate it lower?