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Rating: "Il Vuoto" is a fascinating experience from the first listen: others have said that only after several listens does it become more accessible, but I find that the first impact is in itself overwhelming. Perhaps the only "disadvantage" of the first listen is not being able to grasp those simple emotions that the album wants to give you, despite being explicated to the extreme.
As many have said before me, in fact, this album is disarmingly simple: the lyrics (as always unique), the melodies, and everything are "technically" really simple.. But since "nothing is as it seems", with subsequent listens (which believe me, will follow relentlessly for a few days), you will gain an awareness of "Il Vuoto" that will leave you speechless. Battiato has always been able to amaze us; it's crystal clear that he is one of the (if not THE) best Italian artists, but I swear to you: NO album by Franco had managed so far to leave such a strong imprint on my heart.
Many of Battiato's works have passed through my (let's say modestly) fairly refined ear: wonderful albums starting from the first "Pollution" and "Sulle Corde Di Aries", then the successes of "La Voce Del Padrone" and "L'Arca Di Noè", moving closer to modernity with "L'Imboscata" and "Gommalacca". However, this 2007 leaves me with a "filled void" in the discography, while still remaining a void. Believe me, 33 minutes is short, but perfect: anyone else making such a short album would be too concise and unsatisfying. Franco's gift is to occupy a brief moment, and leave you with the memory for entire hours.
I am not here to use terms that would make the review more lofty (I don't see the need), but I can safely say that just thinking about it, and putting the album back on the player, an emotion rises up my throat, and falls into a sigh. It is indescribable, and magnificent.
Reaching the end of this work, already listened to a few times, we truly understand what this void is: a void of emotions, a void of meaning, and a "void of presences". Through the non-existent image of nothingness, Battiato retraces all the themes dear to him, making them more accessible to the masses, but remaining on a superior level, which not everyone likes.
Please do not judge my acclaiming it as a masterpiece as exaggerated. Because in the void, there certainly is such an important word (while in other places it shouldn't, but it is forced to enter). If you're not quite convinced, please sincerely listen to it again. I'm not trying to make fanatical propaganda, it's just advice. And advice can be accepted or snubbed. But if you can, try it.
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Other reviews
By mementomori
"Listening to this album is like flipping through the pages of a diary: the words arise from the depths and are written hastily, without particular artifices."
"The void... is identified as the space that lends itself to be filled, physically and spiritually, like a place of hope."
By lucaremigio
An overwhelming and heavy desire to sleep would gradually build up inside me.
If you want to experience it firsthand, you don’t need to go to mass; buy this Battiato album and listen to it.
By primiballi
The masterpiece of this album lies in the "non-being," the beauty of its songs lies in being "non-songs."
This album is cold disenchantment. Perfect and pure solitude.
