La 1919 | en

La 1919 (aka La 1919 Spontaneo) is an avant-prog band from Milan, Italy formed in September 1980 by Luciano Margorani and Pierro Chianura.
Their sound is electronic-based, but still consists of traditional rock-band instruments, such as electric and bass guitar (with assistance by clarinets and saxophones on later releases). Mostly though, the band uses keyboard effects and tape looping, combined with a Frippian and Frithian guitar sound, supplied by Margorani (much more evident on their second and third releases), with overlying electronic drums, culminating in a unique sound that flirts with jazz, no-wave, post-punk and electronica, yet is remarkably progressive rock in its basic state.

From 1982 to 1983, La 1919 were part of the "Coopertiva L'Orchestra" of Milan and they eventually released their debut album "L'Enorme Tragedia" on cassette only in 1985. It seems they received somewhat of a following, because on their second release "Ars srA" (1987), they are assisted on some tracks by Henry Kaiser on Synclavier and guitar and many other guest Italians. After their second release, the band seem to have had a break until at least April 1991 and May 1992, when the they played live concerts in Italy. It was these concerts that became the basis for their third album "Jouer, Spielen, To Play" (1994). On this album, they were ably assisted by RIO stalwart drummers Chris Cutler (Henry Cow, The (ec) Nudes, The Science Group) and Charles Hayward (Quiet Sun, This Heat, Camberwell Now, Massacre), as well as Roberto Zorzi, who is a prolific guitarist of the Fred Frith style and who has also played with Henry Kaiser. The material on this album was quite different to their first two albums (mostly due to the guest performers), consisting of twin guitars and even a song by Charles Hayward. Their fourth album was "Giorni Felici" (1997) and again, the duo had guests, including Henry Kaiser, Franco Fabbri (Stormy Six), John Oswald and Fausto Rossi. Their most recent album is 2005's "Freepopjazzrock".

Luciano Margorani learned to play classical guitar from 1972 to 1977, under the tutelage of Mariuccia Tioli and then in 1980, from master Mario Gangi. He presented a progressive rock and electronic music radio show called "Musica dal Penguin Café" on Radio Regione, Milan, from 1979 to 1982. His primary instruments are electric guitar and bass and he has played as a guest on minimalist composer Rhys Chatham's 1995 project "Notte della 100 chitarre", along with 99 other guitarists. In March 2005, Luciano Margorani joined Roberto Zorzi and Zeno de Rossi and formed Roberto Zorzi's Raincoat Crowd where he plays bass guitar. He also plays synthesizer and keyboards in La 1919.

To date, Margorani has also released six solo releases, as well as collaboration albums with Roberto Zanisi (Vendetta, 1999) and Dorgon (Margorani vs. DJ$Shot, 2002).

In 1988, Piero Chianura's electronic music making brother Claudio Chianura (born 1959), set up "Auditorium Review" and Margorani also contributed to this magazine in 1989/90. Claudio and Piero Chianura joined up together in 2005 to set-up InSound, an Italian monthly music magazine.

On 11th December 1999, Piero Chianura and Roberto Zorzi performed live in Milan, with electronic artists Claudio Chianura and Steve Jansen, for what would become the 2001 album "Kinoapparatum".

La 1919's influences seem varied indeed and they are hard to pin down precisely. Obvious influences though seem to be '80s minimalist Electronica, Jazz, electronic post-punk like Charles Hayward's This Heat and Camberwell Now and RIO movement founders Henry Cow and Etron Fou Leloublan. Individual artists that also maybe an influence include Henry Kaiser, Fred Frith and Robert Wyatt (indeed, one track on their debut strangely bears a resemblance to Rock Bottom-era Wyatt). .