Arpia was formed in February 1984 with the following lineup: Leonardo Bonetti – vocals, bass, synthesizer; Fabio Brait – guitar; Aldo Orazi – drums. As early as 1985, Arpia began experimenting with forms of cross-pollination in concert, involving mimes and actors in a project that transcended the confines of traditional musical performance and delved into theatrical exploration. After two years of work in this direction, in 1986, the first compositional phase was realized with “de lusioni,” an experimental demo rich in forms and ideas that were later developed in a more organic way. “Resurrezione e Metamorfosi,” a 40-minute, flowing composition released in 1988, brought this entire phase to a close. In the two years that followed, preceding their final cassette release, “Bianco Zero,” Arpia increasingly focused on the more problematic aspects of contemporary reality: this is the terrain on which their production of the 1990s took root. And in fact the evolution of the group saw in that period a new approach to the way of structuring the shows, which lost their genuinely theatrical measure to be directed more effectively towards a greater communicative tension; The sound changes with the introduction of keyboards, and leads to the songs released on 7″ in September 1992: “Ragazzo Rosso” and “Idolo e Crine”. In April 1995, this path finds its natural outlet both artistically and discographically, with the release of the first album released on CD and vinyl: Liberazione. It is a concept conceived around the idea of ​​a journey into the historical memory of our country fifty years after the liberation from Nazi-fascism. Despite appearances, this work does not express a purely political will, but rather the need to reclaim collective history through minor and individual events. In the following years, therefore, the evolution towards more instinctive and less rarefied rhythmic solutions and sounds leads to an expansion of the group with collaborations that include the intervention of Paola Feraiorni on vocals and Tonino De Sisinno on percussion. At the end of this phase, in September 2006, a work A watershed moment, titled “Terramare,” whose thematic core can be identified in the erotic experience of the world. Earth and Sea are elements of physicality and sexuality, both belonging to a play of commonly accepted contrasts. Earth and Sea, man and woman, on a common plane, where the sense of the mystery of the other is alive and continually at play. The divine element is excluded, the sky is godless, and the only divinities are the classical ones of the woods and the seas, ancient symbols of sexuality. From here begins a journey of exploration of the expressive core linked to the relationship between music and literature, which culminates in May 2009 in a new work entitled Racconto d’inverno (Winter’s Tale), in which poetry, storytelling, and melodrama merge in the experience of musical and poetic language. These are, in fact, two art objects: a novel and a long musical suite. The first, published by Marietti of Milan, the second by the French label Musea. The expressive shift is marked by the work’s purely acoustic nature, a long musical piece divided into several movements. The album, titled Festa Grande, was released in August of this year, following the group’s 40th anniversary celebrations. The live album, Festa Grande, was released on DVD and a double CD on Black Widow Records. The album features Arpia’s entire creative journey, from published to unreleased songs, the latter heralding upcoming releases featuring new singer Valentina Citti. This comprehensive and richly detailed work captures in video and audio the live performance held in Rome during the group’s 40th anniversary celebrations

 

 

Tracklist:
“Arpia” (inedito, 1986)

“Esaltazione” (de lusioni, 1986)

“Lasciatemi divertire” (inedito, 2001)

“Campione” (inedito, 2001)

“Libera” (Terramare, 2007)

“Umbrìa” (Terramare, 2007)

“Cecco” (inedito, 2001)

“Alla Musa” (Resurrezione e Metamorfosi, 1987)

“Scapigliatura” (Resurrezione e Metamorfosi, 1987)

“I caduti” (Resurrezione e Metamorfosi, 1987)

“Bambina regina” (Terramare, 2007)

“Liberazione” (Liberazione, 1995)

“Carne assalto” (Carne assalto, 1989)

“Monsieur Verdoux” (Terramare, 2007)

“Un lupo” (Racconto d’inverno, 2009)

“Canto antico” (Racconto d’inverno, 2009)

“Racconto di primavera” – primo movimento (inedito, 2010)

“Il Libro di Daniele” – terzo movimento (inedito, 2012)

“A tutto il personale” (inedito, 2001)

“Chi sono?” (inedito, 2001)

“La ragazza Carla” (Liberazione, 1995)

“Collettivo ‘77” (inedito, 2001)

“Il Lago” (inedito, 1984)

“Festa Grande” (inedito, 2024)

 

Line-up:
Leonardo Bonetti: Voce, Basso, Synth
Aldo Orazi: Batteria
Fabio Brait: Chitarra Elettrica, Chitarra Acustica