IO NON SO DA DOVE VENGO E NON SO DOVE MAI ANDRÒ, UOMO È IL NOME CHE MI HAN DATO

De De Lind were formed in Milan in 1969 and the name of the band was inspired by a famous Playboy model. After some singles in a "beat" style they turned to progressive and in 1973 they released an excellent debut album with a line up featuring Matteo Vitolli (electric and acoustic guitars, percussion, piano, flute), Gilberto Trama (flute, sax, piano, organ, horn), Vito Paradiso (vocals, acoustic guitar), Eddy Lorigiola (bass) and Ricky Rebajoli (drums, cymbals, percussion). It's an interesting conceptual work that, through the eyes of a dying deserter, tells about the horrors of war. Lyrics perfectly fit the music, even if they could seem a little bit naives, and the result is absolutely good.

The opener "Fuga e morte" (Escape and death) begins with a martial marching beat describing troops going to fight a bloody battle. While the battle rages on a man runs desperately away, trying to escape from the massacre. The rhythm here becomes frenzy and powerful electric guitar riffs underline the anxiety of the fugitive. "I was running along endless paths, I couldn't stop / Dark used to rule / No one with me but worry...". The fugitive feels that he can trust nobody, he's lonely and frightened... "Beware of your neighbour / I've always been told / He could be the enemy / That you have been waiting for a long time...". Then acoustic guitar and flute seem to bring in rest and peace. When sunrays begin to filter in a ancient forest and hope seems to rise, a faceless man shoots the fugitive soldier down. While grey lead bullets take his life away he tries to scream... Too late! His life is fading away.

"Indietro nel tempo" (Back in time) begins softly, then memories come back and souvenirs start storming on the notes of fiery electric guitars... Red faces and black shadows, all the family is reunited around the mantelpiece while outside a cold wind is furiously blowing... "In the stormy nights / The wind was howling / And the grandfather used to tell us / Stories about brigands...".

On "Paura del niente" (Fear of the nothingness) the rhythm calms down again. Life is still hanging on and other images peep out... The souvenirs of a carnival parade and a little boy wearing a mask, an old man on a bench who seems to be carved in the stone, a white carriage passing near the protagonist's house, long chimneys emitting black smoke, a wondering lonely dog looking for a new owner... To die like that seems so unfair and absurd, for the protagonist the wish to meet a sweetheart is still so strong... "I would like to meet you / Just before the sun dies / On another day, again...". Then music takes off again, rebounding forth and back, desperately pulsing, crying, thundering, breathing life again...

The instrumental finale of the previous track melts in "Smarrimento" (Bewilderment) that starts like hanging on a dream on delicate flute passages before the music darkens on heavier guitar riffs... Then soaring vocals on an acoustic guitar arpeggio describe in an almost caustic way a priest at a funeral. The clergyman is between two men in black, his voice is trembling and his look seems lost... "Do you remember, Don Angelo? / You used teaching us to believe in God...".

"Cimitero di guerra" (Cemetery of war) features gloomy and ethereal atmospheres. It's introduced by percussion and gong and starts with a solemn pace... "Cemetery of war in the sun / White crosses remind the horror / Where wheat fields were stretched / So many broken lives lie, in vain / Oh soldier, unknown soldier / That has been buried in a burned field / For you, who are in the oblivion by now / They wrote that you are known to God...". Lyrics then describe a little nun that goes from door to door promising prayers in exchange of charity. She's dressed in black and her dress is like dark shadow... Well, the criticism against official religion and the commoditisation of pain here is strong.

"Voglia di rivivere" (Wish to live again) begins in an almost dreamy way. The attachment to life of the protagonist is strong, but the time is running over... "My time is running over / With the ghosts of some happy hours... My time is fading away / With the smile of the people who take the last train...". Then comes a short instrumental reprise from the second track that leads to the last piece.

"E poi" (And then) is a beautiful short track and a perfect conclusion for such a good album. The lyrics are the title of this work... "I don't know where I'm coming from / And I don't know where ever I'll go to / Man is the name I was given".