Marlene Kuntz

Along with C.S.I. and Afterhours, Marlene Kuntz were one of the most important bands to emerge from the Italian underground in the '90s, and one of the leading names of the indie rock renaissance of that decade. Their mixture of angular and dissonant guitars -- owning more than a little to Sonic Youth -- and poetic lyrics soon became a trademark with which many rock fans identified themselves. During the years the band progressively polished its sound, reaching in the meantime the top notches of the Italian charts, but never lost its edge, remaining one of the most interesting acts of the local rock scene. The core of Marlene Kuntz formed at the end of the '80s in Cuneo, when drummer Luca Bergia, guitarist Riccardo Tesio, and bassist Franco Ballatore decided to start a band, soon followed by Jack on Fire's singer/guitarist, Cristiano Godano -- the moniker being a homage to both Marlene Dietrich and the Germanic imagery she embodied and the Butthole Surfers' song "Kuntz." With this lineup the band recorded some demo tapes, on which the most clearly audible influence was Einstürzende Neubauten. Having won the Rock Targato Italia competition, in 1992 Marlene Kuntz recorded a track ("La Canzone di Domani") in the studios of musician and producer Gianni Maroccolo (Litfiba, C.S.I.), who signed them to his own label, Sonica Factory, soon to become part of Consorzio Produttori Indipendenti, the most important Italian indie label of the period. Marlene Kuntz's debut album, Catartica, recorded with new bassist Gianluca Viano and released in May 1994, paid a large debt to Sonic Youth, but customized their sound with lyrics with a strong literary edge, not that far from Nick Cave's bohemian decadence. Soon songs like "Festa Mesta," "Sonica," and "MK" become little hymns for many...