GENERAZIONI

(Generations)
An hand shake....

2002 - Electromantic Music

Album introduction by: Rinaldo Doro
In 1973 I used to play in a progressive music band, or, as it was better known those days, in an “italian pop” band. We had a farmhouse far away in the country, amateur instruments and a very cheap audio system. We didn’t own any Hammond or Mellotron, because they were twice as expensive as a flat. Our fathers were workers, and we could therefore only dream of such expensive instruments. Anyway at that time dreaming was our favourite occupation: to play a record, to play on tour, to be famous… The songs were brought out. We used to work together on both music and lyrics and then quarrel. As it often happens when you play in a band, the most quarrelsome people used to leave the band just to join it back again the day after, like nothing had happened. Those days Beppe Crovella was already famous. The “Arti & Mestieri” used to play on stage everywhere in Italy with bands like PFM, Area, Gentle Giant. They had already made two records and drawn up a contract with “Cramps” records. I used to write him notes and drop them in his car parked near the train station. At that time everybody played that kind of music and it was always at the top of the charts. I was so fond of it that I used to spend my sleepless nights dreaming and my days thinking about those dreams. Beppe, who lived in a neighbouring town, grew attached to me. He agreed to give me a few piano lessons and to show me a bit of the world he lived in. During the 90s, Beppe Crovella was the producer of the first CD by Calliope. The tracks were the same that I used to play during the 70s. The musicians of the band were different, but the mood was always the old one. What’s more we had the Hammond and the Mellotron, the Mini-Moog that in the 80s no one wanted anymore and that we retrieved through proper flea market prawlings. I recorded the Mellotron pieces of “La Terra dei Grandi Occhi” in front of a window facing the hills of S. Sebastiano and my heart flew up in the sky..For me CALLIOPE lasted throughout five years, three records and a few dozens concerts. Enrico was there from the beginning, first as a sound technician and later as a musician; Francesco joined in after “Il Madrigale..” and the others followed. Massimo, Gianni, Mario ed Enzo, the former members of the first band, had drifted away before getting to the third record; I had drifted away a little later. There comes the moment that life sweeps you away to other adventures or other problems, you never know. I left CALLIOPE out of exhaustion; to be honest I was fed up with peeping too many expectations that never came true. But the dream is still alive, even in the music that I’m still doing and that at last is taking me around the world. Enrico has kept the CALLIOPE’s flame burning against all odds and misfortunes that inevitably life pours down on you. He’s the one who carries on an idea, a dream flying high in the sky, the band that like an animal feeds on himself and lives his own life. This record contains the soundtrack of thirty years of my life: there might seem irrilevant, but maybe it isn’t. I’m glad that the flame is still burning. The Mellotron now sleeps in the cellar, but it’s still working. Thanks to you, CALLIOPE’s soul is still in the same S.Sebastiano sky some thirty years ago or even less..Anyway it’s still there.
Album introduction by: Enrico Perrucci
I grew up listening to Genesis, ELP and Jethro Tull and I met Calliope because one day Massimo, who’s an old friend of mine, entered the old pub in the suburbs bursting out: “I sing in a progressive rock band!” I immediately fell in love with that music; it contained that little bit of epic, of rock and protest, of illusion and romantic that has made it irresistible to me. So, in 1992, soon after the first CD “La Terra dei Grandi Occhi” was released, I joined Calliope as its official sound technician; later on I took part in the band’s rehearsals as well as in the compositional sessions that have then led to the second CD, “Città di Frontiera”. Later on Rinaldo asked me to join the band as the second keyboard: I could’t believe it! I agreed enthusiastically and that’s how I have made my small contribution to the creation of the third record, “Il Madrigale del Vento”. Meanwhile the former musicians had unfortunately decided to leave the band; little by little, others joined the band. But as Rinaldo took other paths I found myself facing a lot of questions: Should I leave the group as well, letting therefore our project die? Should I take his place? Would I be able to carry the weight of the role he plays in the band? But the dream was calling me.. Meanwhile we had gained Francesco, another affectionate one, that later on would have even decided to change his instrument from bass to guitar in order to allow a friend of his to join the group as a bass player…anything just to go on. Much more has happened since then, but anyhow, thrilled like never before, we have reached 2002 and this fourth goal, spurred by the restless Beppe Crovella. The CD aims at setting an ideal link through the tracks: 4 live tracks, recorded by the original former band at Garybaldi Theather on December 20th, 1993 and 3 live tracks, recorded by the new members at the studios on July 7th, 2002. All tracks but “Luci ed Ombre”, which is unpublished, have been drawn out from the “classic” repertoire. A new generation keeps up the work, this is what the title means. (No, we haven’t got sharp ears!). Calliope’s dream is bright and alive and has caught a few new musicians: Flaviano, Andrea and even Alessandro, who is born in 1983 and should be therefore far from this kind of music, not missing Genesis, ELP and Jethro Tull. I have nothing more to say, because I don’t like sweet-talk; but I would like to thank the ones who played before us, and promise them that we’ll make our best to play at their level. The rest is up to you!