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Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Gruppo di improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza - Azioni/Reazioni 1967/1969 (Deluxe Box Set)





The year 2007 saw one of the most remarkable findings in the long treasure-hunting history of Die Schachtel: the complete set of recordings of the early manifestation (1967-1969) of one of the most legendary improv group of all times, the Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza. Rescued by the private archives of Mr. Walter Branchi, one of the original founding members – alongside with Franco Evangelisti, Ennio Morricone, Ivan Vandor, Roland Kayn, Egisto Macchi, Mario Bertoncini and John Heineman – the tapes were then restored in their entirety, but only a part of them were published in an epic 500 copies -CD-only boxset titled "Azioni 1967-1969", which also featured a DVD with the original film "Nuova Consonanza" shot by Theo Gallher during the rehearsal and the concert that the group held on March 19th and 20th, 1967, at the Galleria d'arte Moderna in Rome. Spanning from free-jazz to total abstract noise to wild electronic sounds (thanks mainly to the wizardry of Roland Kayn and Walter Branchi), their music was – and remains – one of the most dynamic, original and uncompromising expression of a period defined by intense experimentation and musical bravery, that anticipated a lot of the experiments to come in later years. Or, to put it simple, "They were utterly unique", as per the words that John Zorn – a long time admirer of the Gruppo – expressely wrote for this edition.








To mark the 10-years anniversary of its original release, and to finally make it available for the vinyl aficionados throughout the world, Die Schachtel is proud to present AZIONI/REAZIONI 1967-1969, the complete cycle of improvisations (which in fact means thirteen additional inedit pieces, spanning over 2 and a half LPs and two CDs ), taken from the original tapes, lovingly remastered by Mr. Giuseppe Ielasi and masterly cut to five black vinyls, with a new design and an even more complete information apparatus, that includes a 64 page LP-size book in English and Italian, complete with essays, memories from the members of the Group, a new article by Valentina Bertolani exploring in detail the techniques of the group (based on the enclosed DVD), a chronology and a collection of original reviews by Maurizio Farina, and – to add an additional cherry on the almost rather juicy cake - a set of stunning (and inedit) black and white photos of the group playing in the glorious Venice "Teatro della Fenice" in 1968, taken from the archives of the Venice Biennale.


This is your unique opportunity to grab one of the 100 Limited Collector Edition, the only ones complete with both 5LPs, 4CDs and 1DVD, the coffee-table book, an exclusive large poster and – to add an even more appealing dimension to the whole thing – hosted in a hand made (in Italy) custom wooden boxset designed by Dinamomilano, whose stunning tactile, "arte-povera" inspired artwork (by Dinamomilano as well) is in fact made by two laser-cut pieces of black rubber and white felt, complete with a matt grey foil-stamped title on the side. You can almost feel the weight of the edition (in metaphorical terms too).


To sum it up, the monumental "AZIONI/REAZIONI" boxset includes:

- 5 vinyl LPs

- 4 CDs
- 1 DVD (with English and Italian subtitles)
- 1 large poster on high-quality paper
- a 64-page sewn-bound large book
- handmade wooden boxset with rubber and felt motif

Please consider that this Limited Edition will be followed by a "regular" one, comprised by 5 LPs+DVD+book (hence no CDs and poster), hosted in a standard cardboard boxset, and a 4CD+DVD+book (hence no vinyls) edition. Please also bear in mind that this is going to be a 1-timer pressing: no further pressing are foreseen for the years to come.



Got my copy... stunning recording quality, as italians do it better!



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