Talco's project starts off within December 1999 and January 2000 as a polit… Read Full Bio ↴Talco's project starts off within December 1999 and January 2000 as a politic ska-core band composed of Tomaso (vocals + guitar), Daniele (guitar) and Nicola (drums). During their first period Rocco (guitar) takes over in while Daniele begins to play bass: the most important arrival is, though, the one of Riccardo at the trumpet. With him the band starts playing around, starting with a ska festival, in Lugo di Romagna (Ravenna., Italy). 11 live tracks are recorded in the month of October 2000 as a first raw demotape, followed in April 2001 by a studio recording (Lesder Studio, Mogliano Veneto): the 6 songs include the first year of the band, directed to a combat ska-punk, rappresented by bands like Clash, Banda Bassotti, Arpioni, Senza Sicura, Los Fastidios, Derozer, etc... In the same month Rocco, far from the band's ideals, leaves the band and Emanuele, old friend, politically and musically well syntonized with the rest of the group, takes his place. In the same period the wind section grows bigger, with Ilaria (tenor sax) and Davide (alto sax). This is the beginning of two years of concerts and socio-political interest. Here are some memories: Ponte nelle Alpi (Belluno): Talco open Alberto Camerini'show, playing a new song, "Tutti Assolti", written to protest against the absoved people of the "Petrolchimico" of Marghera, where 160 workers died bacause of the factories' pollution. They entertain the audience (300 people) for a hour, closing with the eternal "Bella Ciao".

In May-June 2002 the band play in many squats, also outside Venice. Talco present the newest song "L'Odore Della Morte", against war on Iraq and America's foreign politics in Irak, Cile, Latin America, ecc.

October 2002: friendship between Talco and comrades of C.P.O. Gramigna (Padua) begins. Gramigna is a squat in Padua, always in front line and socially pawned: big bands (like Senza Sicura) have their roots there. In that night Talco's show featured "Sessant'Anni", new track on Democrazia Cristiana, the italian party that ruled Italy until not so long ago. Together with C.P.O. Gramigna the band played in many other fantastic gigs (the band played with Malasuerte, punk-rock band from C.P.A. Firenze Sud; in Piazza dei Signori, Padua, for the Liberation Day from nazi scum, 25 april and more...). Two more great and unforgettable shows: the ones during a strike against Berlusconi's government. On both occasions Talco played in the middle of the crowd on a camion, followed by a moving procession.

Grown un in Marghera, city famous for pollution and death caused by Petrolchimico industries, Talco are in first line to rise against the situation: a gig in Marghera's square, with lots of people in memory of the dead workers of "Petrolchimico", remind their political and social pawn.

In September 2003 live shows are interrupted in order to record the first studio disc: 10 higly-politic songs. "Signor Presidente", against Berlusconi and, mostly, antifascist, is presented at the C.S.O.A. Zona Bandita (Venice) together with Marones, comrades from Perugia.

October 2004: the first cd "Tutti assolti" is out, produce by Kob Records and Black Butcher Records.

Talco are a strightly antifascist and against racism ska-punk band. They believe in music independence and in the message it has to send against every kind of discriminations.

Oro Nero
Talco Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Scende la notte
Tra storie spente e memorie tradite
Piange tragedie antiche
Ma non ingiallite
Lenta sprofonda
Tra le sorti incerte dell’impero
Di una patria feconda che svende l’orrore
In cambio dell’oro nero

Desto il terrore
Soffia impetuoso da un’ignara nazione
Che si culla nell’orgia
Della disinformazione

Lo sceriffo rassicura il fine è poi la libertà
Ma il progetto non convince: è il fine per giustificare
Nubi di torture e coercizioni
Assuefatte di legalità
I diritti chimere a stelle e strisce
Tra le gambe dell’impunità

Crolla la libertà
Tra le gambe dell’impunità
Cade la dignità
Il terrore è legalità
Crolla la libertà
Nell’oceano dell’impunità
Cade la dignità
Il terrore è legalità

Lugubre avanza,
Brucia le colpe e le ferite del male
Specchio vuoto di sogni
Del vecchio capitale
Sono schegge di ieri
Scorrono i fili di un ostile passato
Per un domani ignoto
Dal volto incappucciato

Ma il progetto non convince ora si deve escogitare
Una menzogna o un espediente per poter giustificare
Nubi di torture e coercizioni
Assuefatte di legalità
I diritti chimere a stelle e strisce
tra le gambe dell’impunità

-------------------------------------------------------------

:::ENGLISH TEXT:::

BLACK GOLD

The night falls
Among tales spent and betrayed memories
It mourns ancient tragedies
Not yet turned to yellow
Gradually it sinks
Among the uncertain destiny of the empire
Of a wealthy motherland which barters horror
With black gold

Terror awake
Rages on a nation unaware
Which cherishes its orgy
Of misinformation

The sheriff reassures: freedom is the goal
But his project is unconvincing: it is only the means to justify
Clouds of torture and coercion
Rendered legal
The rights of the stars & stripes chimeras
Between the legs of impunity

Freedom crumbles
Between the legs of impunity
Dignity crumbles
Terror is made legal
Freedom crumbles
In the ocean of impunity
Dignity crumbles
Terror is made legal

Gloomy it advances
And devours the guilt and wounds of evil
The empty mirror of dreams
Of old capitalism
Yesterday’s splinters
The threads of a hostile past unravel
Towards an unknown tomorrow
With a veiled head

But their project is unconvincing and now a lie
Must be devised or a means to justify
Clouds of torture and coercion
Rendered legal

The rights of the stars & stripes chimeras
Between the legs of impunity

Overall Meaning

The song "Oro Nero" by the Italian band Talco is a powerful critique of the exploitation of natural resources, particularly oil, by wealthy nations and the suffering it causes in other parts of the world. The lyrics focus on the contrast between the luxurious lifestyles of those who benefit from the oil industry and the suffering of those who live in the regions where oil is extracted. The lyrics suggest that many people turn a blind eye to the human and environmental costs of the oil industry and that this blindness is perpetuated by propaganda and misinformation.

The song begins by describing how the night falls and with it, the memory of ancient tragedies that are still mourned today. The lyrics suggest that the suffering caused by the oil industry is not a thing of the past; it continues to this day, even if many people are unaware of it. The lyrics also describe how the wealthy "sell horror" in exchange for black gold, suggesting that the exploitation of natural resources is a way for those in power to maintain their wealth and privilege at the expense of others.

The second verse of the song describes the propaganda and misinformation that perpetuate the oil industry. The lyrics suggest that people are unaware of the true cost of oil, and that they are lulled into a false sense of security by a sheriff figure who reassures them that freedom is the goal. However, the lyrics suggest that this freedom is only a means to an end and that the true goal of those in power is to maintain their dominance. The lyrics describe how clouds of torture and coercion are rendered legal, and how the rights of the stars and stripes are just "chimeras" for those who suffer as a result of the oil industry.

Overall, "Oro Nero" is a powerful critique of the exploitation of natural resources and the suffering it causes. The lyrics are a call to action for people to become more aware of the true costs of the oil industry, and to resist the misinformation and propaganda that perpetuate it.

Line by Line Meaning

The night falls
The darkness of night descends upon us

Among tales spent and betrayed memories
As the night falls, old stories and memories come to mind, now lost and forgotten

It mourns ancient tragedies
The darkness of night seems to lament the tragedies of the past

Not yet turned to yellow
These tragedies are still fresh in our minds and have not yet faded with time

Gradually it sinks
As the night progresses, we sink deeper into its darkness and uncertainty

Among the uncertain destiny of the empire
Amidst the unknown fate of our society and nation

Of a wealthy motherland which barters horror with black gold
Our once rich and proud nation is now corrupt and uses its natural resources to gain wealth at the cost of the people's well-being

Terror awake
Fear and terror has taken hold of us and awakens us from our ignorance

Rages on a nation unaware
These fears rage on in a society that is unconscious and unaware of their own plight

Which cherishes its orgy of misinformation
The society revels in lies and deceit that are propagated by those in power

The sheriff reassures: freedom is the goal
The authorities claim that their objective is to maintain freedom and justice for all

But his project is unconvincing: it is only the means to justify
However, their actions and agenda do not reflect these values and it seems to be a mere excuse to justify their actions

Clouds of torture and coercion
The society is shrouded in a mist of violence and oppression

Rendered legal
These inhumane practices have been sanctioned and are now labeled as lawful

The rights of the stars & stripes chimeras between the legs of impunity
The ideals of freedom and democracy that the society professes are being trampled upon and disregarded by those in power

Freedom crumbles between the legs of impunity
Under the guise of impunity, freedom and liberty are eroding away

Dignity crumbles. Terror is made legal
As this happens, our sense of dignity and self-respect is also deteriorating and the terror imposed upon us is being legitimized

Gloomy it advances
The darkness and uncertainty of the future approaches us

And devours the guilt and wounds of evil
This darkness seems to consume our sense of wrongdoing and past traumas

The empty mirror of dreams of old capitalism
Our aspirations and dreams have been left unfulfilled and reflect an empty, hollow version of capitalism that has failed us

Yesterday’s splinters, the threads of a hostile past unravel
Past problems and conflicts have resurfaced and threaten to rip apart the progress we have made

Towards an unknown tomorrow with a veiled head
The future is unknown and uncertain, secured by a veil of mystery

But their project is unconvincing and now a lie must be devised or a means to justify
The authorities must now turn to lies and pretenses to uphold their oppressive regime

Clouds of torture and coercion rendered legal
The society is cloaked in a mist of violence and oppression that is accepted and legal

The rights of the stars & stripes chimeras between the legs of impunity
The ideals of freedom and democracy that we once held dear are being disregarded by those in power

Contributed by Zoe N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS