Ennio Morricone
L'assoluto naturale

The Absolute Natural, soundtrack of the homonymous film by Bolognini based on a novel by Parise and released in theaters in 1969, falls into the category of the lesser-known works of Maestro Morricone. Cinematically speaking, this sound commentary fits into the bourgeois drama genre (Metti una sera a cena, for instance) and its music, therefore, should be listened to with this cultural and visual context in mind.

The opening track, which takes its title from the film, is present in three different versions in the 1998 Cinevox reissue, two of which were not in the original version. This is also a way to discover how the same theme can lend itself to many enjoyable variations. The following track Sempre più verità is a variation on the theme, here presented with a martial and vaguely paranoid gait.

The main theme is thus rendered in a lounge key (Il profumo della tua pelle and Sembravi desiderare), cool jazz (Studio di colore) or simply in an impressionist manner (Laboriosamente). Stunning also is Amare assolutamente which, as in line with the title, opens up the more epic side of Morricone's music. Equally valuable is the intimate Imparare a conoscere.

Throughout this pleasantness that goes on until L'estate è vicina, the album's closure with Assalito dalle rondini is quite unsettling. The effect of this Gothic/psychedelic-style track is absolutely disorienting. I suggest you listen to this beautiful work with good headphones glued to your ears, all the way to the end. You won't regret it.