Audio 2
Senza Riserve

Giovanni Donzelli and Vincenzo Leomporro, known as Audio 2, gained recognition with the general public in 1993 with the singles "Si che non sei tu" and "Per una virgola"; the group’s formula is clear from the start: new pop sounds (by the author) and never banal lyrics that occasionally border on nonsense.

Quite a unique group, therefore, spotted early on by the great Mina, who chose to sing the song "Neve" on her album, "Sorelle Lumière", which was written by Giovanni and Vincenzo. Not a bad start. After 2 albums produced by Mina’s own son, various radio successes ("...sono le venti, sono le venti e dieci, si..."), a Telegatto as best new group of the year, and an entire original soundtrack for the film "I Laureati" by Leonardo Pieraccioni, in 1996 Audio 2 released, in my opinion, their best album, namely, "Senza riserve".

The vocal cords of the duo vibrate on one frequency, that of Lucio Battisti, who magically revives in every single one of their songs (even in those of this CD); it’s not that they mimic him, it’s that they genuinely sing that way! "C'era e non c'è" opens the entire work; the track moves on a sharp but determined rhythm, the decidedly summery atmosphere (like when you’re on the beach and there’s a light breeze?) pulls the head along a highly effective instrumental and vocal melody, the text is to be considered a masterpiece of imagination ("metereologia applicata del tempo non devi fare, le condizioni si potrebbero spesso identificare nell'amare").
It all continues with the lethal "Io sono normale", a song about the need to feel normal in the eyes of people: great performance as a "madman" just out of a care center; cult phrase ("vuoi fare l'amore? Ah... vai a fare le compere"). "Prima pagina" is one of the catchiest pieces; melodic pop and words used to describe the astonishing importance that the front page, the one with the most sensational news, holds for people, always looking for something to talk about and an opportunity to say their own; the discourse is also valid for reviews, especially those on the front page, chosen by the editors ("bella, vera o falsa, senza fondo di certezza, non fa niente! Basta che piaccia alla gente").

There are few weaknesses; "Anche se io" is a nice romantic ballad but over time becomes too monotonous ("con le tue avventure che non hanno senso, con le frasi urlate al vento ma non ti sento"), "La soluzione" too samba-esque and at times embarrassing, even if the lyrics still manage to work well, and "Alza le mani" is a pointless pop-rock track that echoes Luciano Ligabue’s style just a bit too much, not at all fitting the group. To conclude, I would like to mention “Come monete che tu puoi spendere nei giorni che vuoi”, one of the best tracks, both of this album and in Audio’s discography, a group now iconic in the Italian scene, thanks to their evergreen pop, sincere and devoid of commercial compromises.

I don't know if they will manage to rise back in popularity, music has indeed changed, but surely they knew how to stay on top for a long time!

p.s. The duo from Naples has just released “Acquatiche trasparenze”, their seventh album.