Disco de Jet: “Fede Speranza Carita”

J.e.t. was a short-lived Italian prog band that released this one and only album in 1972, Fede, Speranza, Carità on the Durium label. The band then went the commercial Italian pop route by changing its name to Matia Bazar, including a female vocalist, and the drummer from Museo Rosenbach. I am pretty certain the Matia Bazar albums are of little interest to prog collectors, but the J.e.t. album is definately of interest to prog fans. Why? If you're a lover of the more heavy and agressive end of Italian prog, such as Osanna, Il Balletto di Bronzo, Alphataurus, Museo Rosenbach, and Semiramis, you're bound to dig Fede, Speranza, Carità. The first two cuts, the title track and "Il Prete E Il Pescatore" are nothing short of amazing. Aggressive guitar work, killer Hammond organ, and lush string synths (that is, the Eminent) that brings to mind Semiramis. Some of the guitar riffs sound like they came off Osanna's Palepoli (but J.e.t. never had a sax player or used Mellotron like Osanna did). The reason why I knock a star off is the acoustic ballad "C e' Chi Non Ha". The song itself isn't bad, but it's too repetitive, as it bogs down things a bit. Luckily the next two cuts, "Sinfonia Per Un Re" and "Sfogo" are better, the former features some nice violin work. I understand the lyrics to this album are heavily Christian, but since they're in Italian, I can't tell if they're preachy or not. But regardless, you only need to enjoy Italian prog to enjoy this album. The original LP to this album isn't exactly easy to come by, but it comes with a gimmick cut-out cover. It has been reissued a few times, first by King Records in Japan, Si-Wan in Korea, and Vinyl Magic in Italy. I have the Si-Wan CD reissue, which includes two bonus cuts, "Gloria Gloria" and the horn-driven "Guarda Col Tuoi Occhi". These two cuts had originally appeared as singles the band released in 1973. Those were some of the last recordings under the J.e.t. name before changing their personnel and their name name to Matia Bazar and changing genres. Anyway, if you're a fan of such Italian prog bands as Semiramis or Museo Rosenbach, you're bound to enjoy J.e.t.

J.E.T. was a true marvel. If you are ever fortunate enough to come across a copy of this album, don't think!-just mindlessly pull your credit card out and buy it; you won't be sorry. I got very lucky and found this used in a CD store in Korea. J.E.T. only made one album, but it came on like a storm, especially with the opening title track, Fede Speranza Carita. The playing is heavy and impassioned. The second track, "Il Prete E Il Peccatore", ups the ante of breathlessness considerably. It's my favorite, because it changes musical faces so many times going from Cream-like jamming to almost preachy gospel all in the space of mere minutes. The vocals on this song are particularly subline. "C'e Chi Non Ha" is one of the more tender songs, and-despite the heavy synthesizer melody that pervades, a nice acoustic number at heart. "Sinfonia Per Un Re" brings the listen back to more heavy territory. Starting out with a nice quiet violin/conga bit, it builds to a fuzzy crescendo. At the center of the song is this haunting meandering piano solo. "Sfogo" is a surprise because of its funk-jazz lean; the manic piano in this song is particularly grabbing. The vocals are surreal, to say the least. Although just over three minutes, everyone gets to stretch out here from a great flamenco-driven guitar solo to the bass bit. "Gloria, Gloria" was probably their attempt at the hit single, although I understand this song is a bonus cut on many copies of this album. With a heavy bass and catchy chorus, it fits into the heavy rock-jazz mold of this album. The last song, "Guarda Goi Tuoi Occhi" has a wonderful clash of a Soft Machine-like horn section and a blistering guitar solo. It's a great bonus track and a great way to close an album. The members of this band would go on to form something called Matia Bazar. Unfortunately the pop-music of this band would in no way, shape or form resemble the J.E.T. album. Will this album go down in the annals of great progressive rock albums of all-time? Probably not. They broke no new ground, and pushed no envelopes of perception with their songs, but J.E.T. played with an earnest, honest and hungry intensity that you will have a hard time finding on any album today and on very few albums of any of their contemporaries for that time.