Canzoniere del Lazio-Miradas,LP,1977,Italy

Great prog/folk experimental LP by this political folk band,released through Cramps label in 1977.This is their most abstract structured LP,different from all others.
"Formed near Rome in 1972, this group has been one of the most important examples of progressive folk in Italy during the seventies.Though their beginnings were strongly inspired by literal reworkings of central Italy traditional tunes, they soon added original elements that, never in a rock style, can let them considered as a "progressive" group in the wide sense of the word.
Initially a quartet, and only using acoustic instruments, Canzoniere del Lazio released their first album in 1973 for the Dischi del Sole label, (a small independent record company specialized in folk albums). The album contained all traditional songs, and showed the good vocal interplay between singers Brega and Modigliani, but it didn't have a particular success.Singer Sara Modigliani left after the album, still interested in discovering old folk tunes; she is still active as a solo artist and with her group La Piazza.
The other added new musicians, two of which, Pasquale Minieri and Giorgio Vivaldi have been stable members since then, and released a new album in 1974 for the newly born Intingo label, Lassa sta' la me' creatura.Still strongly influenced by traditional music, this represents a transition album with the introduction of electric instruments and the use of some rock and jazz elements.
The best period in CdL career came with the following two albums, Spirito bono and Miradas. The first of these, again on Intingo contained just four tracks (all of which also appeared in shortened form on singles), with long instrumental parts and traditional lyrics. It was produced by the american Peter Kaukonen (brother of Jefferson Airplane's guitarist Jorma) that probably gave a distinctive touch to the recordings even adding some electric guitar parts.The group played at the VI Festa del Proletariato Giovanile in Milan (and were also included in the Parco Lambro live compilation LP) and were ready to embark on an african tour when three of their members, Piero Brega, Luigi Cinque and Francesco Giannattasio left.
The others reformed the group with new members, and successfully played at the VII Political Music International Festival in East Berlin in february 1977. A beautiful album, recorded in studio during that tour, was only released in East Germany.Their fourth album Miradas was released in 1977, this time on Cramps and with the production of former Area guitarist Paolo Tofani (also known as Electric Frankenstein). Considered by many as their more mature work, the LP includes five songs, some of which show african music influences. The new members Clara Murtas on voice, Maurizio Giammarco on sax and Marcello Vento on drums (from Alberomotore) fit perfectly into the band's music.
The same line-up appears in the fifth and last album, Morra 1978, again on Intingo, with three long tracks, again a good album though maybe on a lower level than the previous two.The LP, that was to be entitled A risciacquà li piatti e la paura, was released one year after the previous one and contains tracks recorded in the same session as the ones on Miradas, but not included on that album, and was presumably issued to fulfill the contract with the old label.
After the band split Minieri and Vivaldi formed Carnascialia, whose only excellent album in 1979 was an early example of world music.
Carlo Siliotto has kept working as film music composer. He made a nice solo album in 1979, Ondina, and at least another on CAM (Grooves, no. CML211, in the early 80's).Pasquale Minieri has long worked as producer and sound engineer for many important italian artists.Two of the founder members, Brega and Giannattasio, have played in Malvasia, a group which released an eponymous album on Cetra in 1979 (LPX 74) halfway between italian and celtic folk."
From Italian Prog.

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