Search - Jacula :: Tardo Pede in Magiam

Pretty scary stuff, not to everyone's taste

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 11/24/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I'm giving this album a three star rating, because this brand of heavily occult-influenced music will not appeal to everyone. This Italian group consisted of a bunch of occultists who wanted to explore their love of the occult in a musical context. They are often thought of as a prog rock band, but PFM, Banco, Le Orme, etc. they definately are not. In fact there's little rock to be found here (no drums, for one thing), but still proggy enough for progheads who aren't bothered by the content or the dark, sinister nature of the music. The group consisted of guitarist/vocalist Antonio Bartoccetti, keyboardist Charles Tiring (hardly young at all, apparently was in his 60s at that time, according to an interview by Bartoccetti, meaning he probably had a classical background, rather than rock), vocalist/violinst/flautist Doris Norton (known as Fiamma Dello Spirito here) and someone named Franz Parthenzy for the medium. Charles Tiring tended heavily to the pipe organ, although he also used some Moog (for sound effects) as well. In 1969, the band released their debut album, In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum. That album was guaranteed its rarity because it never hit the record stores, rather it was sold to religious and occult groups who were interested. But in 2001, that album received a CD reissue, so one doesn't have to pay the big money if an LP copy turns up (which is almost never at all).



It took Jacula three years for that followup album, and in 1972 comes Tardo Pede in Magium Versus. Well, this music is perfect for Halloween and those bad horror films you might have watched around that time of year where you see some dusty, dilapidated old mansion (not unlike The Munsters, but without the comedy), with an abandoned pipe organ full of cobwebs. There is no getting around that impression when you listen to this music. Apparently this whole album was conducted under a seance, which makes sense. "U.F.D.E.M." is packed with pipe organ, and also harpsichord. Doris Norton sings here, in Italian, with the absurd vibrato, she sounds like an Italian version of Catapilla's Anna Meek. "Praesentia Domini" is more sinister-sounding pipe organ that goes on for about 80% of the piece, then comes some really sinister chanting and strange Moog effects in the background. "Jacula Valzer" is by far the most pleasant song on this album. The pipe organ was put aside here, for a more jazzy sound, nice wordless voices, and flute. "Long Black Magic Night" features spoken dialog in English, courtesy of Doris Norton, it comes to prove her English really needs help. Also she provides us with some really sinister violin work. All this is perfect for a really bad horror movie. That last piece, "In Old Castle" is strictly pipe organ.



This was the album that also brought the end to the Jacula name. Apparently the band had a falling out with Charles Tiring. Antonio Bartoccetti stated in an interview that "Charles was a mad 68 year old with an 18 year old wife, didn't want to understand that rust quickly eats the treasures". I'm not exactly sure what he meant by that, but obviously he wasn't on good terms with Tiring. Also Antonio Bartoccetti had to take military service. After military service, he took on the name Antonius Rex, with the rest of the Jacula members minus Tiring and continued to record more albums under that new name.



Regardless, this is really spooky music and if you get scared easily, don't buy this CD, but if you're not, you get some good (but not great) music."

Very very strange

B. E Jackson | Pennsylvania | 04/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's amazing so many bands out there give us the cliched version of scary Dracula music. Jacula however, sounds more like the real thing. This is one heck of a mysterious Italian band. For one thing, it's barely rock music, but I guess since progressive rock has so much variety and focuses on writing lengthier songs, this Jacula album would fall under that category.



But you know, the music itself is really strange. The album is loaded with organs. I mean a LOT of organs; more organs than I've probably ever heard before. It really makes you wannt start up those old Castlevania video games! The music is quite mysterious, spooky, and yes, definitely Halloween music. Without a DOUBT Halloween music.



The lead singer reminds me of an Italian Grace Slick, but because of the spooky themes, it's probably better to compare her to the lead singer of that rare Chicago band from the late 60's called Coven (that supposedly influenced Black Sabbath a year later).



I honestly really like this album because it sounds like NOTHING else I've ever heard. An album dominated with pretty vocals and organs and bass guitar, I think it's an album that needs more attention than it's received so far."