IL TEATRO DELLE OMBRE

Time= 1971

Circumstance= Italy was caught up in the massive social movement that had started in the late 60s and culminated with 1970 Woodstock, NY event, which united the world , at least artistically. Many bands were seeded from that musical moment, and in typical Italian fashion they humorously gave themselves long names that could easily be reduced to simpler monikers, PFM, RRR, RDM, BMS, QVL etc?Some were politicized as well with strong left-wing tendencies which were the rage of the times, what with Viet Nam and the Cold War in boiling point mode. Consorzio Acqua Potabile (or CAP) thus began, like many bands before and after, from very humble origins, friends and neighbors getting together and having fun. 40 years later, CAP releases this masterful book, a sensational historical compilation that encompasses 200 pages of text and photos, dedications, tour notes, event particulars, fan club anecdotes as well as 4 CDs of re-mastered music that include live concerts (past and recent), a newly recorded "best of" , various outtakes and demos as well as a re-edition of their long-out of print debut album, the thrilling "Nei Ghorghi del Tempo", as fine an RPI album than any other out there. This understated masterpiece is on par with Felona e Sorona, Per un Amico, Banco, Ys, Maxophone etc... For collectors of RPI as well as progressive rock in general, this is a brilliant testament to a band that kept making music for the sheer pleasure, as opposed to becoming pop stars and selling their soul to MTV or RAI for that matter.

Below is my personal and proud history with CAP as well as being one of the guest dedication introducers in this disc's opening message, and this is what I wrote and was printed: "Decades of shopping for the newest progressive rock thrill still left me unprepared for my encounter with CAP's magnificent "Robin delle Stelle", originally attracted by its magical artwork and researching its history before purchasing it in 1999. I was on a business trip in Vancouver and had to drive overnight through the imperial Rockie Mountains, embraced by towering peaks, listening to "Lontana Lucia" and I had to stop by the roadside in a narrow valley as the emotions were just too powerful, a moment of pure spectral magic! This is when I fell in love with CAP, sent the band a note and received both the incredible "Nei Gorghi del Tempo" (a top 10 prog masterpiece) and their third "Il Bianco Regno di Dooah" directly from Maurizio. Not a year went by when I had the great pleasure of meeting Mau and guitarist Massimo Gorlezza in Milano in 2003, in searing hot and record humid weather. I dissected all three albums, all my notes in hand, track by track with various analytical comments but mostly clucks of sheer delight! Both Mau and Massimo were stunned that a total stranger from Canada was grooving to their musical craft, knowing each note as if it was his, so deep and joyous was their bewilderment! The connection between fan and artist was thus complete, we had a night to remember, delicious dining, vino rosso, limoncello, coffee on a floating restaurant on a canal, signing "Lontana Lucia" playing full blast from the open-aired Volvo, racing down the autostrada. That moment will live on "Lontana" (forever)! "

The musicians in CAP, led by the mercurial Maurizio Venegoni deserve adulation and respect for forging their passionate craft with intelligence and fortitude. They are both masterful musicians and genuinely lovely, decent and caring people. Their past friendships with equally celebrated RPI bands continue until this day and into eternity. This is a gem of the highest order.

Congratulations are in order for Consorzio Acqua Potabile and a 40 year career of stellar music!

5 Whirlpools of Time