mani" (1975)
Arti & Mestieri - "Giro di Valzer per Do

Arti & Mestieris second release, this time there are more songs but shorter ones. 15 songs on the original album + 2 bonustracks on the Akarma release.

The album kicks off with a slower instrumental tune in waltz-tempo, fittingly entitled "Valzer per Domani". On the next track, "Mirafori", which also is one of the longer tracks here (5'59'') the band really starts to shine. Its again an instrumental piece, the drumming is as always - jawdropping. Different tempos, first the violinist has a very raw and frenetic solo, then the guitarist, and then a sax-solo. This is instrumental fusion at its very best, not getting dull or overendulging.

Four tracks or so on the album are of around a minutes length, and serve as "interlude" to the coming track. Or have the same themes but played with different instruments. Track 3, "Saper Senfire" is the first with vocals. They now had a full-time singer. He has a good voice. This track, as some others has a slight element of funk blended into the melody.

Track 5 - "Mescal", is another track worth mentioning. A pretty typical fusiontrack, however Furio Chirico takes this one a level higher with his extraordinary drumming. In fact it seems that overall, the drummer gets much more space to shine on this album, than on "Tilt". Track 10 "Consapevolezza parte 1" and 12 "Consapevolezza parte 2" are tracks with the same theme, obviously. Very catchy and good melody. Track 11 "Sagra" has a furious drum-intro and the speed or energy never stops from there, amazing.

Track 13, "Rinuncia" has this slightly slick melody and vocals, sounding rather plastic and 'modern' but still Arti & Mestieri manages to put lots of quality into the track and make it original. Track 14 is an example of how much freedom the drummer gets, a nice pianointro is followed by some slower themes, and in the 'background' Furio is playing in his own fast tempo, separated from the main melodys tempo.

The two bonus tracks are of average quality. The first, "Marilyn" is rather weak, with its strange mix of instrumental fusion, funk and disco. The second, "Sui tetti" is an average fusiontrack, pretty uninteresting, and also sports bad soundquality.

So what is the verdict then? Well, "Tilt" is a very good album, with only minor disappointments. "Giro di valzer per domani" sounds almost like another band at times, much due to the fact that the production is much better, the fusion elements on "Tilt" has now been fully developed. The concept here is another, being the shorter tracks making it 15 tracks. I miss the mellotron from "Tilt" which was so effective in creating 'atmosphere' and "warmth" in the melodies.
You have to here this album a lot of times before the melodies start to sink in. Still, its very worthwile the patience and waiting, because this album is full of quality and careful arrangements. I like "Tilt" a bit more though, but just because "Tilt" is more accessable. And on some tracks on "Giro di vatzer per domani" the fusion just gets too much for my taste. But if you like "Tilt" then this album is simply essential to have also.
The soundquality is much better on this Akarmarelease than on "Tilt". Here it has a crystal clear sound. Also, the digipac from Akarma is one of the nicest I've ever seen, the digipac comes in a double gatefold package.