Matia Bazar - Aristocratica (1984)

Matia Bazar ( Italian: is an Italian pop band formed in Genoa in 1975. The original members of the group were Piero Cassano (keyboards), Aldo Stellita (bass), Carlo Marrale (guitar, vocals), Giancarlo Golzi (drums) and Antonella Ruggiero (vocals). They represented Italy in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest with a song called "Raggio di luna". 

They are known for the quality of their female vocalists: after Antonella Ruggiero, Laura Valente, Silvia Mezzanotte, Roberta Faccani and currently Luna Dragonieri. Their major hits were Solo tu (1977), "Vacanze romane" (1982), and "Ti sento" (1985), which peaked on the charts in Belgium, Netherlands and Italy.

Tango is more accessible, however I agree with Experiment IV that slightly uneven overall.

Aristocratica combines many music styles that's why I am surprised that no one earlier suggested this as an Art Pop album. 

Once I saw a video to a title track i was absolutely mesmerized by it. If it was originally released in 1984 then I bow to them, way ahead of its time. 

At the times album reminds me of another lost gem Worlds Away by Strange Advance especially in a manner of creating the atmosphere. You are not overwhelmed by a wall of sound but you get delicate pounds of synthesizers. 

The melody slowly approaches to you without being hit in the face. Often I am surprised that such simple sounds can create so much atmosphere. 

It's like raindrops scattered around and then picked up together by the vocalist. The voice is a main instrument here as I don't understand a word in Italian I can appreciate how perfectly bends the sounds into one structure, pure aural pleasure.

The group achieved several major successes, amongst which the win of two Sanremo Music Festivals, in 1978 and in 2002.

Tracklist

A1. Sulla Scia - 4:50

       Written-By – C. Marrale, M. Guzzetti, S. Stellita

A2. Carmen - 4:20

         Instruments – R. Giagni

         Written-By – A. Ruggiero, G. Golzi

A3. Ultima Volontà - 5:30

        Featuring – Garbo 

        Written-By – C. Marrale, S. Stellita

A4. Milady - 5:10

         Written-By – C. Marrale, G. Golzi, S. Stellita

B1. Aristocratica - 5:10

         Written-By – C. Marrale, S. Stellita

B2. Mosca Helzapoppin - 5:10

         Written-By – C. Marrale, G. Golzi, M. Guzzetti

B3. Logica Attenuante - 4:10

         Synth, Soloist – S. Cossu

         Written-By – A. Ruggiero, S. Stellita, S. Cossu

B4. Luci Al Neon - 4:40

        Written-By – C. Marrale, G. Golzi

Companies, etc.

• Distributed By – Dischi Ricordi S.p.A.
• Recorded At – Studi La Nave
• Recorded At – Studio Radius
• Mixed At – Simphony Recording Studio
• Mastered At – Idea Recording
• Copyright © – Equipe Edizioni Musicali
• Copyright © – Sispe
• Pressed By – CGD Pressing Plant
• Printed By – Graphyche Magica 2000

Credits

• Acoustic Guitar – C. Marrale, M. Luca
• Executive-Producer – M. Salvadori
• Graphics [Graphic Computer] – «Videolab»
• Graphics [Graphic Project] – Cinzia Ruggeri
• Lacquer Cut By – DD
• Layout – Fragola & Panna
• Lyrics By, Music By – Matia Bazar
• Mixed By – Franco Santamaria, G. M. Pecoroni, R. Colomb
• Orchestrated By, Directed By [Strings] – A. Mompellio, P. D'Alo
• Other [Architectural Environment] – «Alchimia»
• Other [Dress] – Abito «Levi Strauss» Di «Cinzia Ruggeri» Indossato Da «Gina»
• Photography By [Cover Photo] – Occhiomagico
• Producer [Prodotto Da] – R. Colombo
• Recorded By – L. Castriotta
• Recorded By [Special Effects] – E. Denna
• Vocals – Antonella Ruggiero

Notes

Released: 1984 

Genre:  Electronic, Pop 

Style:  Europop, Synth-pop 

Length:  39:10

Label - Ariston Music