STORIA DI UN IMPIEGATO

Even if this is not my favorite De Andre' album, I can't believe that it still has no reviews. It was released in 1973, during one of the worst periods of the Italian political history, just after a coup attempt organized by the CIA and after a number of terrorist attacks by the neo-fascists who caused huge number of deaths for years until the bigger one at Bologna's train station on August 2nd 1980. In the same period there were riots, clashes between police and left winged protesters, something that had its roots in the Berkeley riot in 1966 where the US police killed some students but had its official start in France on May 1968, with the movement lead by Cohn-Bendit.

This is the story. Fabrizio De Andre' writes a concept album about the 1968 French movement and how the middle class (the "Impiegato") reacted to it. Of course lyrics are often more important than music, even if Fabrizio was a classical trained guitarist.

"Introduzione"(Intro) takes less than two minutes. After a quite proggy instrumental part, Voice and classical guitar with just few synth behind says clearly what the album is about. "They had enough time, also for jail. Outside the same rage, the sane Spring were waiting for them". The second track, one of the most known of this album, starts immediately.

"Canzone del Maggio"(Song about May) is obviously referred to the rebellion in France on My '68. It's one of the protesters telling to the middle class "Even though you actually thought to be absolved, You were completely involved". It means that in front of a rebellion you are part of what happens regardless the side you decide to be on. The message is quite similar to the trade unions anthem written by Woody Guthrie: "Which Side Are You On". It also mentions things like the biased media coverage, something that doesn't seem to be different today, if not worsened. Musically speaking it has a little Country-rock flavor, do to the finger-picking and the harmonica, but the baritonal voice of Fabrizio has a particular tone.

"La Bomba In Testa" reprises the melody and the chord progression of the Intro. It tells the story of an anarchist who joines the cause, leaving his job and his good sentiments to become a "warrior". The song speaks of a bomb, but it's probably referring to the clashes at the Sorbona University. The last verse tells about "placing a bomb at a masked dance, and "Al Ballo Mascherato (To TheMask Dance)" is the following song. Totally different from the previous from a musical point of view, has a sort of fun feeling. Even if a bomb is about to explode, the participants are happily dancing. Still flavored by a Country feeling it's driven by the bass with the guitar sounding as much as possible like a fiddle.

"Sogno Numero Due(Dream #2)" is a prog song. It's uptime with a blown flute that reminds to "Concerto Grosso" by New Trolls more than to Ian Anderson. It explains what the previous song is really about. It this is the Dream #2, the Mask Dance is the dream #1. The anarchist dreams to put a bomb in a gala full of "celebrities". This second dream is about putting the judge, and the law itself, under trial. Making justice of the corrupt society of that time. If only he could have imagined how we would have ended to nowadays... Anyway, after the jazzy flute section there's a speech part backed by a percussive bass. This is the verse. The chorus is te instrumental part driven by the flute.

"La Canzone Del Padre (The Song Of The Father)" is folky and on the chord progressions more familiar to the listeners of De Andre'. It's very similar to the kind of songs of "La Buona Novella". It's not very easy to interpret because it's a true poetry. In the dream, the protagonist takes the place of his father dead in the bombing of the previous dream.

"Il Bombarolo(The bomber)" in now awake. After three dreams he decides to place a real bomb. He wants to make it explode in front of the parliament but by mistake it destroys only a newspapers kiosk. He is then arrested and jailed. The act is completely useless. Musically it's a nice folk tune with some unexpected passage.

Now what I think is the best song of the whole album: "Verranno a Chiederti del Nostro Amore(They'll come to ask you about our love)". It's a slow waltz. The bomber talks to his wife, who is now the wife of a jailed terrorist and is persecuted by the media. This is one of the best songs by De Andre' in terms of melody and chords progression. One of my favorites at least.

Finally, from the prison, the bomber has the time to rethink to his errors: the individual act has no meaning as a revolution must be carried on by the people. "Nella mia ora di liberta'(In my hour of freedom)" he decided to give up to that hour because he doesn't want to share it with the cops. In the end he has done a mistake, but his reasons were right. It's a slow finger-picking, again with a country-rock arrangement but with a interludes with a RPI flavor.

Not the best album by De Andre' but still an excellent one. Full of poetry as usual.

Somebody once said "Faber is the Italian Bob Dylan". He was replied: "Wrong. Bob Dylan is the American De Andre'".