TILT - IMMAGINI PER UN ORECCHIO

Arti & Mestieri are one of the best known Italian prog bands and have been active since 1973. They come from Turin and were formed on the initiative of Furio Chirico (former drummer of The Trip) who met with keyboardist Beppe Crovella (former member of a band called The Mystics) and four musicians coming out from a jazz rock band called Il Sogno di Archimede, Gigi Venegoni (guitar), Giovanni Vigliar (violin, vocals), Marco Gallesi (bass) and Arturo Vitale (sax, vibraphone). In 1974 they released their debut album for the independent label Cramps, "Tilt ? Immagini per un orecchio" (Tilt ? Imagines for an ear), a brilliant mix of rock, jazz, classical, Mediterranean influences and melodic passages. The art cover by Gianni Sassi, featuring a flying funnel in a blue sky among white clouds, in some way describes the overall sound of this work where many influences floating in the air are caught and channelled through this conical utensil having a narrow tube at the apex to be blended and conveyed on the tracks of the album.

The title of instrumental opener "Gravità 9,81" (Gravity 9,81) is inspired by the law of gravity formula. Ignoring air resistance, an object falling freely near the Earth's surface increases its velocity with 9.81 m/s (32.2 ft/s or 22 mph) for each second of its descent. As gravitation causes dispersed matter to coalesce, on this track the creativity of the band perfectly blends the Mediterranean touches of colour evoked by the violin with a pulsing rhythm section and a jazzy sax solo. This piece is an authentic trademark of the band by now.

Next comes "Strips", where the dreamy and romantic mood of the music contrasts with the bitter disenchantment of lyrics condemning a reality of empty conventions, of absurdities filling your head, of languid songs and artists whispering useless words, of faded stories about planets, wizards and gods...

"Corrosione" (Corrosion) is a kind of short bridge leading to the beautiful instrumental "Positivo / Negativo" (Positive/Negative) where a first solar and dreamy part, featuring acoustic guitar and violin, gives way to a second part full of energy, featuring a great rhythm section and a good electric guitar work.

"In cammino" (On walk) is another excellent instrumental that opens with a melancholic sax introduction, then rhythm takes off and melancholy melts in joyful passages where the members of the band showcase their musicianship. On the original LP it was the last track of side A.

Next comes the short instrumental "Farenheit", where the rhythm goes slowly up like the temperature of a thermometer introducing "le plat de resistance" of the album, the long and complex suite "Articolazione" (Articulation), a piece about the necessity to live the present facing the reality. There's no time you can waste waiting dreaming for better days while the Death is leading into the grave all her dear lovers... "It's not because you think to have understood / That your future is going to change / In the mirror you must see / What is harder seeing...".

The experimental "Tilt", almost an example of concrete music, concludes an excellent album where music flows away without weak moments. A must for every Italianprog lover!