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Rating: The grandfather everyone always wished they had.
Cheerful prankster Franco, always has been, ever since the days when he mixed synthetic frequencies with the rumbling of the audience booing during his disorienting live performances.
The album is released under the name Battiato/Pinaxa, likely because the sound engineer must have made a more than substantial contribution to both the pre- and post-production of this "Joe Patti's Experimental Group".
After the recent passing of Manlio Sgalambro, poet, philosopher, and Battiato's trusted lyricist, it is no coincidence that space is mainly given to played music, with words taking a back seat. Many of these lyrics, then, are taken from texts already previously published.
Who is Joe Patti? The fisher-uncle, immigrated to America in search of fortune, like many others in those years. Why? Because he liked it, period.
The word "experimental" is, I would say, an excellent advertising gimmick. Indeed, two synthesizers (including the Italian-made Grp Synthesizer A4, a precious modular personally owned by Pinaxa Pischetola) are not enough to make experimentation in a record.
Rather, one can speak of mysticism, a concept much dearer to the composer. The electronic sound that becomes something else, absolute, immaterial. The infinite Universe. Giordano Bruno.
Reverberated pianos here and there, ethereal violins up and down, and electronics, acting as a glue.
Echoes of Boards-of-Canadian in "CERN", perhaps the most mystical track on the album, where the sensible experience bows to the simplicity of an angelic choir.
Compulsive electronics interspersed with orchestral breaths with Battiato warbling verses in German (by Swiss writer Fleur Jaeggy); arms open, white-guru tunic, immersed in his aura of sanctity. All of this is "L'Isola Elefante".
"Proprietà Proibita" is the old TG2 Dossier theme, that Propiedad Prohibida already published in the 1974 album "Clic", here reinterpreted in a pumped and modern key.
An eye also on the cover, which goes well with the cyber and Arcimboldo-like landscapes traced by the music.
Not such an experimental record, here it is, definitely one of the best of his latest productions. Brazen.
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