99 Posse
Cerco Tiempo

THE REVIEW

We all know the 99 Posse at least a little, for their political activism on the far left, whose basic principles, sometimes for propaganda purposes, are present in all possible facets in the half dozen albums they produced until 2001... I might be biased in writing this review, but allow me this indulgence, because the album in question is worth all four of those stars.

"Cerco Tiempo" is at the same time the least politicized and most introspective of their recorded albums, and we can objectively state that the 99 excel when they are detached from political themes. The musical as well as geographic kinship with Almamegretta is vivid and palpable, indirectly complicit, at least as far as the sound and effects are concerned.

From the dark and desolate atmospheres of "Non c'è tempo", to the existential testament of "Pecchè": "Ogni juorno é fà na scelta, si nna faj ta fann fà, ccà niscino maj t'aspetta, curre non te può fermà", from the amusing anti-cop nursery rhyme "Fujakka", hardly digestible for those who don't share the sentiment, and the only strongly politicized episode of the album in question... to culminate in two little gems that deserve a separate paragraph...

"Spara", from the title that might carelessly evoke some anecdote related to crime, instead reveals a majestic testimony on the very current and burning issues of immigration and social tolerance, and shows how everyone, even the most tolerant, experiences the issue with a thousand contradictions within themselves. "Balla e piensa" is perhaps the absolute masterpiece of their entire discography. Over a tribal background made of djembè bongos and accordions, the lust of an anarchic and libertarian chant rises, culminating in the expression: there are no other words to describe it; it is an imposing and explosive four-minute emotion...

The other tracks, alongside those mentioned, seem superfluous as well as mere fillers, worth mentioning are the experimental "Gatta mammona" and the partisan nostalgia of "Avrei voluto conoscervi".

I then wanted to dedicate two notes to the more skeptical regarding the album... listen to it at least once, I don't say the whole thing, maybe the 4-5 mentioned tracks, and free of ideal-political prejudices. It is true that it is quite tough to face the listening of a track by the artist in question, especially if you do not accept their thoughts, but think again: the ninety-nine are not just: "viva l'erba, fascio merda, sbirro non rompere", in fact, they succeed, in my opinion, in reaching artistic heights rarely achieved here in Italy... And well, with this little note, I'm done... until next time!