Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin
The Fleece, Bristol | 25 February
Claudio Simonetti, original member of 70s prog group Goblin, presents us with his variation on a theme. This night of Italian horror film soundtracks brings a solid collection of geeks and freaks in from the cold evening air.
These sounds’ contemporary popularity can be attributed not only to the enduring cult status of the films they accompany, but also their influence on modern electronic artists – as well as Justice’s flagrant disregard for copyright law when sampling the soundtrack of Tenebrae for their massive Phantom Part Two. Claudio has teamed up with (the presumably thrilled) Goblin cover band Demonia to assist on this tour.
A tree of keyboards onstage herald the arrival of Claudio, and what a lovely chap he is. He’s obviously keen to blow some minds tonight, although the portentous intro music peters out into a slightly baffling, awkward interlude. His band of big strapping Italian musicians are a formidable force, as Claudio sets off like the wind, his fingers tempering out classic after classic of videotape memories like the horror jukebox he is. Roller, Aquaman and Dawn Of The Dead/Zombi are incredible slices of key heavy doom. Cheesy it may be, but it’s the flesh that fits the bones of some seminal movie moments: most of director Dario Argento’s catalogue, as well as some of George A Romero’s game changing early films.
Each track takes on a titanic life of its own, separate from their visual associations. Susperia and Tenebrae are two of the strongest tonight. The band don’t miss a beat as Claudio straps on his vocoder for the latter to form that instantly-recognisable main riff which has the whole room beaming in recognition. Next track, Phenomema, is presented complete with a sample of the thousands of flies that swarmed around Jennifer Connelly in the movie, succeeding in getting audience skin crawling.
Such is the joy of watching Claudio perform, the eerie overtones of this music become inspiring rather than truly unsettling. Profondo Rosso and Demons aptly round off a dextrous, masterful display from a one-of-a-kind artist with his place cemented within popular culture.
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Words: Philip James Allen
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