T.A.C. (Tomografia Assiale Computerizzata) is a post-industrial, experimental and electronica group from Cagliari, Italy.

The group was formed in Parma, Italy, in 1981, with five members, Andrea Azzali, Simon Balestrazzi, Giorgio Barbuti, Fabio Cortesi and Giampaolo Terenziani. The name is the Italian for the medical imaging device Computed Tomography (CT).

The group was originally known for making a crossover between experimental music and avant rock, involving treated tape loops, custom built synthesisers and metal sheet percussion on one side and guitar, bass and drums on the other.

This original line-up recorded two albums on their own label Azteco Records.

In mid 1984 they were joined by Gregorio Bardini (Tuxedomoon collaborator and member of Thelema). With this new personnel they recorded “Ouvrez Vos Auditifs Canaux” but the line-up split in 1985, immediately after the album release, when Giorgio Barbuti, Gregorio Bardini, Fabio Cortesi and Giampaolo Terenziani suddenly quit the band.

Andrea Azzali and Simon Balestrazzi kept on working as a duo for a while and then formed a new version of the band inviting Andrea Palazzino, Antonio “Franz” Menozzi and Paolo Ollari

to join in.

This period was devoted to powerful percussive and savage live performances, but after this new quintet recorded the album   “Il Teatro Della Crudeltà”, that couldn't be released till the end of 1987, things went wrong again and a crowd of personnel started to revolve around the two original members.

Meanwhile, back in early 1986 Simon Balestrazzi had formed the dark-chamber ensemble Kino Glaz along with former T.A.C. member Gregorio Bardini and with Paola Sartori and Patrizia Mattioli. All the three of them joined T.A.C. and so did Celestino Pes and Gianmarco Mora.

After a last concert in May 1987, however, the band split again, this time rather acrimoniously, with the two leaders parting ways. For a short time after the break up there were two bands operating under the same name but after a while the faction consisting of Andrea Azzali, Gregorio Bardini and Gianmarco Mora changed his name into Razza Ventura.

On the other side Simon Balestrazzi carried on with Patrizia Mattioli and Celestino Pes till mid 1989 when they were both substituted by young artist Enrico Marani.

The duo put the foundations for great part of the future T.A.C. releases in the next 5 years.

TO BE CONTINUED...