Militia - Folk II 12'' 1985

Militia born officially in late '82 in Perugia/ Italy when a post-punk band called Lo Noize, formed in 1979, disbanded. Founder members feature Dario BAVICCHI (keyboards, electronics, guitar and vocals), Fabrizio CROCE (rhythms, electronics and vocals) and Giovanni ROMUALDI (guitars). Bass player were, in chronological appearance, Augusto CROCE (late founder of Aidons la Norvege), Nicoletta VINTI (late in London with The Passions and with Trans-global Underground original line-up), Claudio CASTRINI, Andrea CONVERSANO (a long-time member of the band), Arlo BIGAZZI (solo-artist and founder of Materiali Sonori Label) and Aroldo TOCCACELI. Without a bass player the three remaining members are still continuing in 2006 as open line-up featuring part-time collaborators. Along a three-decades career many famous international artists worked with Militia: californian violin player Blaine REININGER of Tuxedo Moon fame; german poli-strumentist Chris KARRER, founder member of legendary Amon Duul II (a two-years collaboration with him following "Dunarobba"); japanese d.j./composer Nobukazu TAKEMURA; british multi-ethnic combo TRANS-GLOBAl UNDERGROUND; american avant-garde composer David SHEA; english experimentalists O YUKI CONJUGATE. So as many italian artists and musicians took part to their projects: trumpet player Cristian BITTARELLI (long time partner of the band); poli-strumentist Roberto LANERI (founder in early '70's of legendary vocal ensemble Prima Materia and collaborator in early '80's of Peter Gabriel); percussionist Stefano Saletti (founder member of Novalia); soprano-vocalist Paola CHIURULLA; vocalists Sabrina CARLETTI and Elena OKECHUKWU; trombone and shells player Antonio COATTI (founder member of Ella Guru and Shell Vibes); cello player Damiano PULITI (former-member of Harmonia Ensemble); etno-musicologist and poli-strumentist Giancarlo PALOMBINI; electronic act GOVINDA; singer/interpreter of the Jewish tradition Enrico FINK; deejays RALF, LOVECALO', Simone FABBRONI and MAFFIA SOUND-SYSTEM (residents at the same name Club in Reggio Emilia, the european temple of Drum 'n Bass). Since 1996 Militia started to work for avant-garde Theatre (with director/actor Carlo BRUNI e with group TEATRO DI SACCO, whose former-member Roberto BISELLI projected with them "La crociata dei bambini", a musical-theatre opera inspired on classic Marcel Schwob novel), Cinema (with director Massimo MARTELLA in his second film "La prima volta) and visual arts (with dutch video-makers TWO THINGS in the multimedia piece "4.48" inspired on Sarah Kane text, commissioned by international Festival Cartoombria). At the end of the 90's they started a series of "soundtracks for Spoken word" CD's: their "Elvengamello" project involved among the others director Pupi AVATI, french actor Philippe LEROY, Werner Herzog films german producer Walter SAXER and contemporary composer Salvatore SCIARRINO; later, "Above Pesaro" was a musical project based on the same name poem written and read by irish author Macdara WOODS. Live activity of Militia developed between 1984 and 1992 with tours in Germany (they played at Berlin's alternative temple KOB, then celebrated in Wim Wenders masterwork "Der himmel uber Berlin") and in Holland and concerts all over italy; they performed in the most representative italian Clubs and billed in the most important Festivals of that period, contributing to start an italian "new-wave" scene (together with well-known bands as Diaframma, Litfiba, CCCP, Moda, Neon, Ritmo tribale, ecc.). They shared the stage as with italian bands (among the others Take 4 doses, Weimar gesang, Violet eves, Dirty kids, No fun, Savage circle) and authors (Mauro Giovanardi, former-member of La crus, Francois R.Cambuzat, Grazia Di Michele, Goran Kuzminac. Roberto Ciotti) as with international artists (ECM norwegian guitaristTerje Rypdal, chilean group Inti Illimani, singer/authors Patrick Fitzgerald and Mary Kelley, english indie-bands Breathless and Artery, german combat/folksters Subway to Sally). During the career they received sincere appreciation worldwide (reviews, interviews, radio airplay). In 1991 they entered in the annual "favourite bands"-top ten reader's playlist for one of the main italian musical magazines (Rockstar); "Dunarobba" awarded "album of the year" playlist on english magazine Audion as on italian one Rockerilla; "La crociata dei bambini" appeared again in the annual playlist of Rockerilla. The specialized press had always a positive approach into their music. Among their “unofficial” supporters are Richard Sinclair, founder member of Canterbury band Caravan, american composer Terry Riley and legendary mysterious band The Residents, whose members wanted some copies of "Dunarobba" for its diffusion in the radio-stations of southern California. At the end of the '80's Militia started a partnership with Materiali Sonori label, the oldest italian "indie", and with his founders, brothers Giampiero and Arlo Bigazzi (producer and collaborator for "Dunarobba" and "Elvengamello"): since then the label issued the whole discography of the band. Militia members too contributed to some productions of Materiali sonori ("Marco Polo" project, featuring David Sylvian and Roger Eno among the others, solo album of Tv entertainer Claire Ann Matz, an album of experimental group Doubling riders, all the "Drop" series albums); as remixers they used the nickname of Grifo Kings and work on their own and other label artists material. In early '80 they owned with a group of friends a legendary alternative Club called Suburbia in Perugia suburbs. Fabrizio Croce is a.k.a D.j. Fofo: he selected two compilations for the "Drop" series (released by Materiali Sonori in 2000 and 2001) and since 1987 is the art director and the M.C. at Norman, an underground Club near Perugia (www.normanclub.it; www.myspace.com/normanclub). New double C.D. "Namu / Namasthe + dathu" is out now.

Tracklisting:
A1 In Trionfo
A2 Echi
B1 Mare Crudele
B2 Ritmi

Contempo Records EP011

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