Interview
(Progressive Newsletter Nr.8 06/96)
excerpts from an interview with Marco Mancarella (Keyboards)
The band was born in 1990 by the fusion of the two groups The Eclipse and the original nucleus of Aufklärung, still embryonic and musically undefined. Many and varied have been the circumstances that brought us to get where we are now. The stronger link, without a doubt, can be found in the common musical origins dating back to the rock of the late 60's and 70's. The musical heritage of that period has left a deep imprint in our lives whether because it has a foundamental role for our growth or because it started a patrimony of memories and traditions in which we still continue to see ourselves. One of our mottos, in fact is: "to live in a world of memories which are not ours but that belong to us". In 1990 we recorded in Brindisi our first demotape "Jetho Van Hall". In march 1994, we recorded also in Brindisi the complete DAT demotape "De' la tempesta... l'oscuro piacere" from which we recorded nine CDs. We gave one CD to Marco Barcarotti, a collector; he recorded a tape for Alberto Nucci from the fanzine Arlequins, who wrote an article about it. After this article Elio Ribotta also wrote an article in the italian fanzine Nobody's Land. After these very important articles some labels, namely Cygnus Records, Vinyl Magic, WMMS, Pick Up Records contacted us. In October we also played in Terni at the 4th Prog Festival for Amnesty International.
Please give me a short description of all your songs on the CD.
"Red shift" deals about reincarnation. Starting from a scientific phenomenon, we talk about a man that tries to escape from himself and who jumps into another dimension where people who start to pray become pursued. "Jetho Van Hall" is a platonic love song between a page and a princess, but this love was impossible because of the different social classes. Principally "Jetho Van Hall" shows the immutability of life. In "Il funeral della luna" we talk about the loss of human worths. It is here represented by the moon, that slowly comes to death, therefore the universe organizes a funeral. Generally our lyrics are optimistic, so after the funeral the moon is again formented by the human heat, reborn from his ashes. "Eclipse" and "Echo's wave" deal about human migrations, caused by political or ethnic reasons.
Where did the idea came from to use this unusual band name?
Aufklärung, as you know, is the german translation of the term Enlightment, which was the intellectual movement that assigned to reson a critical role. The Enlightment was a breaking off cultural movement like it is our choice to remake ourselves to a kind of cultured music that belongs to the past and that is now out of style.
How would you describe your music?
Aufklärung's music is a mixture into which every musician of the band brings his own musical experience e.g classical music, Blues, Jazz, Progressive Rock, Folk, Hard Rock and all of his emotions born during his existence. The search of expressive forms purely musical, outside the norm and the current stereotypes, has induced us to confront ourselves with the history and a constant lookout for bands like Genesis, King Crimson, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Yes, P.F.M., Camel, Jethro Tull, Van Der Graaf Generator, Gentle Giant, Deep Purple, Balletto Di Bronzo, Paese Dei Balocchi, Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, Metamorfosi, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Marillion etc.
How did you came together with ex-Asgard singer Chicco Grosso?
During the recording sessions of "De' la tempesta..." we had a problem concerning on the militray service of our ex-singer Edourdo Lecci. In fact we recorded with him only the flute parts. The choice of Chicco Grosso was the natural consequence of our friendship.
Kristian Selm © Progressive Newsletter 1996