Baustelle
Amen

Amen: a simple word that indicates a liturgical closure, a term that encompasses a thousand and one meanings; and just as many (and perhaps even more) are the facets of the music played by the Tuscan band Baustelle (Made in Montepulciano, Italy); a lot of water has passed under the bridge since that distant year 2000, when with their masterpiece album "Sussidiario Illustrato Della Giovinezza" they managed to carve a small path in the stagnant market of independent Italian music (which includes among its ranks other Indie groups that I respect such as Afterhours, Virginiana Miller, Marta Sui Tubi, Perturbazione, and Nothing but Clara).

Francesco Bianconi & Co. later (2003) churned out another great album titled "La Moda del Lento," with sounds decidedly even more retro than the previous one and with a "badass character" that suited their musicality well; on "La Malavita" (2005) I believe there is no need to make further comments regarding its appeal to and against people's liking...

And so we come to the fateful work "Amen," published by the major record label Universal and consisting of 15 tracks (but the real gem lies in the 2 ghost tracks placed in the negative, meaning you'll have to skip backward after the first song of the CD to hear them !!!) that manage to draw a very complex picture of our beloved Beautiful Country, a picture that speaks of suffering, precariousness, incivility, insensitivity, loneliness, existential drama, the increasingly habitual Malady of Living, but also of the simple word LOVE whispered, sought, sometimes even violated to overturn its most spontaneous and natural meaning; it is a work that certainly will not disappoint the classic fans of this splendid musical "Ensemble," which made us wait a good 3 years for another divine album, as only they know how to play! Anyway... since Easter has just passed and I'm still feeling rather good and generous towards others... heh heh heh heh heh... now I will present to you, my dear cannibals, each piece of the CD and will try to summarize my impressions about each track (to avoid annoying you to death!):

1- E Così Sia: exclusively instrumental track, based on short but intense piano notes (in short, a track that might not fit at all with the CD, but which has its overall meaning!)....... rating 6.5 ;

2- Colombo: ahhhhh... the dear perverse architects of Bel Air... rating 7.5 ;

3- Charlie Fa Surf: everything possible has been said about this track, even that Baustelle were inspired by the Clash!!!!!! I simply say... PAROXETINAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !!!!!!!!!!!! rating 9;

4- Il Liberismo Ha I Giorni Contati: ladies and gentlemen, we are faced with the "Karma Police" of 2008 and so let's bow (oh, those who want to remain standing, go ahead, but don't complain about the tingling in your feet and aching bones!) rating 9.5;

5- L'Aeroplano: how about we all go for a trip to Baghdad by plane with Rachele??? I'll pay for the ticket, don't worry... rating 9;

6- Baudelaire: "....in the flowers of the fields lives Vanna Marchi... ooopsss, sorry, I meant Piero Ciampi..." rating 9.5;

7- L: next month we are all going to the moon to look for Laura !!!!!!!!! Staying in a five-star hotel... rating 9;

8- Antropophagus: ....I wonder where I got the inspiration for my nickname.... who knows... rating 9.5;

9- Panic!: "...........have you ever experienced horror? (yes, I lost the last derby !!!!!!)................." rating 8.5;

10- Alfredo: "Eternal Rest grant unto Alfredino Rampi, O Lord, let perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace.... Amen! " rating 10;

11- Dark Room: and tonight we are all going to prance with Rachele, in a dark room to the rhythm of bossanova (which, by the way, I don’t even like that much!) rating 9;

12- L'Uomo del Secolo: this track has too metal of a start and ends a bit like "Sausage and Tagliatelle Festival"... rating 9;

13- La Vita Va: my life is in your hands and your words, my Rachele.... Marry me, please... rating 9;

14- Ethiopia: here we go back in time... rating 8;

15- Andarsene Così: the fitting conclusion of the "De Bello Gallico Baustelliano"... rating 10.

Ghost Tracks:

- Spaghetti Western: wow, the maestro Alessandro Alessandroni in person... rating 7.5;

- No Steinway: ...but Beatrice Antolini is also strong, yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.... rating 7+.

In Conclusion, with "Amen" we might all be able to understand at least a sixteenth of our current life (whether happy or unfortunate it may be) and we might also be able to direct our hearts and souls in a single way out...

A M E N