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Rating: There are different ways to celebrate an anniversary. Some do it in grand style, others prefer to only invite close friends, some let it pass by subtly, others celebrate it secretly, and who knows how many other ways. Elio E Le Storie Tese decided to celebrate by releasing "Gattini", with the subtitle: "Selezione Orchestrale di Classici Nostri Belli".
This album is the way the Milanese band chose to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of their first album, "Elio Samaga Hukapan Kariyana Turu". Along with this album, they chose to have a concert on a specific date at the Teatro Arcimboldi with a 40-piece orchestra on October 26. A concert from which, probably, a DVD will emerge. But now let's talk about "Gattini".
As the title itself says, it is a very special Best-of, as some of the great classics of the Eliatic repertoire are revisited and played by a full orchestra together with the band. The tracklist covers the entire production (with the tracklist ordered by the album's release) of these 20 years, and it includes almost all of their most successful pieces (even if great classics like "Supergiovane", "Mio Cuggino" or "Servi della Gleba"" are missing), starting from "John Holmes" and arriving at "Shpalman". The pieces are totally rearranged, and in some cases their sound gains a more modern feel, even with the support of the orchestra.
The result is an excellent work, which will appeal to both the die-hard Fave (the members of their fan club) and the newcomers who want to enter the magical world of Elio. The orchestra is always present but does not contribute to "weighing down" the sound, which often happens in similar operations. On the contrary, it blends very well with the guitars of Civas and the drums of Meyer, almost making it seem that the chosen pieces were written specifically for that occasion, and the only unreleased track present, "Storia di un Bellimbusto", is a pleasant track with the group's usual sharp irony, this time directed at today's youth who crowd the clubs and have values that are only fashion and women. Elio and the various guests (Lucio Dalla, Enrico Ruggeri, Max Pezzali, Riccardo Fogli, and Skardy) deliver their best performances, as if to honor this record, which can easily be classified as a celebratory album of the group's genius.
The arrangements, as always when it comes to them, are ingenious, sometimes mad. They are well aware of their musical prowess, and certainly, in this album, they show that, before being a great group, individually, they are all great musicians. The inevitable musical citations, scattered throughout the various pieces, will delight those who have always loved this group. The CD is accompanied by a DVD with an unmissable making-of, and the opportunity to listen to and see the realization of certain pieces.
Ultimately, "Gattini" was the best way to celebrate their 20 years. Ingenious.
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