La 1919 Spontaneo – L'Enorme Tragedia [Cass] (1985, ADN)

  

La 1919 (aka La 1919 Spontaneo) are a Milanese avant-progressive band that first started life in September 1980. The brainchild of Luciano Margorani (born 19th July 1961, in Milano) and his friend Piero Chianura, the band have released five albums to date. Their sound is electronic-based, but still consists of traditional rock-band instruments, such as electric and bass guitar (with assistance by clarinets and saxophones on later releases). Mostly though, the band uses keyboard effects and tape looping, combined with a Fripp-ian and Frith-ian guitar sound, supplied by Margorani (much more evident on their second and third releases), with overlying electronic drums, culminating in a unique sound that flirts with jazz, no-wave, post-punk and electronica, yet is remarkably progressive rock in its basic state. From 1982 to 1983, La 1919 were part of the "Coopertiva L'Orchestra" of Milan and they eventually released their debut album 'L'Enorme Tragedia' on cassette only in 1985.

 

The way to describe the sound of the first side of this tape at first listen is a mixture of Throbbing Gristle, This Heat, and Canterbury-prog music. The first track, "Questo Caldo", with the seeming androgyny of the drums (meaning they sound both electronic and acoustic, creating a neutrality in its binary of sound), goes a good job to introducing the sound of the album. "Molto Azzardato" could be described as dark ambient mixed with a bastardization of Frippertronics. Nevertheless, it creates an interesting environment. The last part of the track, which gives us a duo of synthesizer and guitar, paints a dreary picture with the nearly-unsettling distortion of synthesizer. The third track, "Senza Tregua", has a sound that could be noted as proto-IDM. There's really nothing left to say, other than it's a great track. The beginning of "Dornier Cordaianthus" sounds Eno-esque. To the untrained ear, one would say that it would be devoid of influence, but a good example of a more accessible version of this would be Gang Of Four.

 

The B-side starts off with "L'Enorme Tragedia", with both band members' voices playing a big role for once. They eventually give way to the avant-rock style that this album seems to do so well. The tracks on this album in general feel like they're feeding off the one trick they can pull (a mixture of industrial and prog). However, the third track, "Metzengerstein", feels a little fresher as it mainly focuses on the percussion rather than guitar. Mechanic rhythm comes to mind when listening. The fourth track, "8'35", while lying about the supposed track time, gives us a more indie rock setting, something that if cleaned up would probably be on a college radio. "La Caduta" begins with a lo-lo-lo-fi cymbal playing behind a droning synthesizer. The album had a This Heat influence from it, and hearing the vocals from this track, one can definitely hear it coming through. The muffled narration, which is the formation of a short sound collage, definitely gives a new perspective to the sound. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC]

 

 

 

Label: ADN – ADN TAPES 16, ADN – 16 

Format: Cassette, C30 

Country: Italy 

Released: 1985 

Style: Electro, Experimental, Future Jazz, Avant-Prog, Industrial

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Questo Caldo 

A2 Molto Azzardato 

A3 Senza Tregua 

A4 Dornier Cordaianthus 

B1 L'Enorme Tragedia 

B2 Il Sogno Di F.F. 

B3 Metzengerstein 

B4 8'35" 

B5 La Caduta 

 

Credits: 

Composed By, Arranged By [Improvvisato] – La 1919 Spontaneo 

Graphics [Grafica] – Piero Chianura 

Guitar [Chitarre Impreparate], Bass [Basso], Drum Machine [DDM "C.H." 110], Keyboards [Casio], Voice [Voce] – Luciano Margorani 

Keyboards [Casio MT 40, Yamaha CS 30], Drum Machine [DDM "Charles Hayward" 110, DR 55], Bass [Basso], Tape [Tapes], Voice [Voce] – Piero Chianura 

 

Notes: Recorded at home on 4-track during the harsh winter of 1984. Mixed in March 1985. 

 

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