A Starosta, El Idiota

The song A Starosta, El Idiota, with its 3 minutes and 16 seconds duration, immerses us in a soundscape that is constructed in a particular way. It begins and ends with Spinetta on the piano, but in its central development, the piece is invaded by a series of noises and sound fragments. Among them, a snippet of She Loves You by The Beatles can be recognized, and the crying of Spinetta himself is also distinguished. From this sonic chaos emerges a melody different from the initial one, this time accompanied by an acoustic guitar.

This track is part of Artaud, the third and final album by Pescado Rabioso, released in October 1973. Although the band had dissolved earlier that year, Luis Alberto Spinetta decided to use the group's name for this work, which is considered his first solo album. The title of the album and, by extension, of this song, takes inspiration from the French poet Antonin Artaud, to whom the album is dedicated. It is said that Spinetta played with toys bearing that name in his childhood, and at the same time, the name sounded familiar to him. Artaud was nicknamed "the sacred fool," a designation he himself used in one of his books. The production of Artaud was handled by Jorge Álvarez along with Spinetta.