Jacquarell Tug
Mystificator of Scogliera

LA RECENSIONE

It was 1991 when the Jacquarell Tug released their debut album. The band from the province of Goccio, born from the dissolution of Mortor 56, did nothing but follow the same path as the latter, through a progwave with vaporous tones. This direction was certainly driven by Dani Hitlinson, guitarist of Mortor, now the frontman of the Tug. How fundamental they were for the music of the following years, we do not know. The only thing we can strongly assert is that they did not go unnoticed, facing competition I dare to call almost 'ruthless' from outfits like Tratto or Paper Fax, who, even if not sharing music of the same caliber, had greater public consensus.

The first album by Jacquarell is called Mystificator of Scogliera (not quite the debut since before it the EP 'Froziente Nasco' was released), an absolutely innovative product. Many have described the album as a mix between the best of Mare Nostrax and a hint of Bleckenigge, but comparisons here are plenty. The lineup included the aforementioned Dani on guitar, Joni Otaka on bass (son of the great Rubaldo Otaka), Gary Stellone on strectofonia, and Giovanni Masciuppo on mining. But let's talk about the music.

Everything is clear from the cover. A sea of notes that wobbles and buries the listener in an auditory orgy. The first track 'Braing of Brano', written with five hands, is the pinnacle of fiftieth metalwave. A track with neoclassical touches based on 16 beats, most of which are odd. It's undeniable that they might have drawn inspiration from the pro-guitaristic skills of Mentinchester's genius, Norman Bruttenfold. The tones become milder with the second track, 'Nativity for Gianni', where comments are superfluous. Another piano attack, where the frontman's wrenching voice maneuvers through uncontrolled echoes and sandpaper rubs. However, 'Giangurartorigretrofroscu' is the winning piece of the lot. Pure avant-garde, Dani's tetrahedral guitar scale becomes scorching. The tones rise to the point of leaving the viewer fixed in watching how, in the central minutes, a deathly silence leads to a cupid and insensitive finale, in an emotional crescendo that is the base of the musical genre proposed and renewed by the Gocciese group. A lot of experimentation in a track flavored by a bass that emits almost xylophone sounds (something that will often happen in the group's subsequent works). In short, a must-listen at least once in a lifetime, despite the almost prohibitive length of this suite (433 seconds).

Side D of the album is not as fundamental for the decade. In fact, it gets by, with its ups and downs ('Nurgens of Roberto' and 'Mughi To Spinacina' mainly) but loses that aura of mystery and effectiveness in entirely predictable tracks like 'Posacenerentola' and 'Gallery Muniz'). All members give their best, thus the product is excellent, starting from Otaka's booming bass to Stellone's hovering blues on the keyboards. A finale with a bang, therefore. It's difficult to place this 'Mystificator of Scogliera' in just one genre. It will become easier with the easy listening of subsequent works, 'Marionets of Contrabbando' in primis.

A band truly worth discovering. Enjoy the movie everyone.