Post Description

Studio Album, released in 1972, Italy.

Rock Progressivo Italiano.

This is probably the most "easy and accessible" album of Franco Battiato"s "prog period".

The first side of this LP is a kind of "suite" with all the tracks bound to each other. "Il silenzio del rumore" (The silence of the noise) begins with the echoes of a waltz in "Strauss style", then comes Battiato"s recitative voice ". Ti sei mai chiesto / Quale funzione hai? = . Have you ever been wondering / What is your function?". Then a "percussive" rhythm guitar and a church organ lead to the sonic explosion of "31 dicembre 1999 - ore 9". Then the keyboards introduce the theme of "Areknames", that goes on with strange vocals and "experimental" lyrics (written in "reverse style": for example Areknames = Se mancherà). On "Beta" you have sound effects and recitative vocals that lead to a "mystical mood" while a piano play some notes of the previous theme "Areknames". The conclusion of "Beta" is a philosophical question on an orchestral carpet: "Dentro di me vivono la mia identica vita dei microrganismi che non sanno di appartenere al mio corpo... / Io a quale corpo appartengo? = Inside of me live my identical life some micro organisms that do not know that they belong to my body. / Me, what body do I belong to ?".

On the second side you have three more experimental tracks : the interesting "Plancton" with a kind of "space tarantella finale", the less interesting "Pollution" and the final weak instrumental "Ti sei mai chiesto che funzione hai?". In the whole I think that this album is an excellent addition to any prog collection ! 




Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Il Silenzio Del Rumore (2:48)
2. 31 Dicembre 1999 - Ore 9 (0:20)
3. Areknames (5:07)
4. Beta (7:25)
5. Plancton (5:03)
6. Pollution (8:49)
7. Ti Sei Mai Chiesto Quale Funzione Hai? (3:35)

Total Time 33:09

Line-up / Musicians

- Franco Battiato / vocals, synthesizers VCS3
- Ruby Cacciapaglia / piano, synthesizers VCS3 and VCS2
- Gianfranco D"Adda / drums,
- Mario Ellepi / guitars, synthesizers VCS3, vocals
- Gianni Mocchetti / bass, synthesizers VCS2, vocals