Bernardo Lanzetti
Gente Nervosa

Reading the review of the Acqua Fragile album that recently appeared, I couldn't help but think of this solo album by the group's leader, Bernardo Lanzetti, who in the early '80s took a trip to London to record this good album, "Gente nervosa", which has nothing to do with Acqua Fragile's prog, but clearly marks his greatest musical loves: rock, country, and blues.

Here the protagonist is him with his splendid guitar, with an interpretation always heartfelt and "with soul". His musical world is all here apart from progressive, from the fast initial country-rock ("Donne donne, donne oh!"), the rest unfolds into soft ballads ("Princess Caroline", with a prominent saxophone), a light country tune like "Cowboy cowboy", a piece that somehow might resemble reggae like "Solo io e te" and rather classic rock'n'roll like "No comment".

But the piece that is undoubtedly a cut above the rest in this album is certainly the title track, with excellent guitar riffs and a chorus that stays in your head from the very first moment.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to attend one of his concerts in a pub near my house, and I was struck by his absolute skill and stage presence. I had the honor of asking him to play "Gente nervosa", which he performed right away. Moreover, he was smart enough not to overdo it with the Glovox (the mechanic's glove applied to the throat connected to a small device that filters his voice).

A character to rediscover.