Juan Mordecai
Songs Of Flesh And Blood

THE REVIEW

After the reunion of Casino Royale and Ritmo Tribale, they were the ones missing: the Karma. Even under the new name Juan Mordecai (it's up to you to discover the meaning of this bizarre moniker), you can find the duo formed by David Moretti and Andrea Viti, respectively the singer and bassist of the former Milanese group, helped by all the other former members of Karma and several other guests.

For those who don't know, Karma represented the Italian answer to American grunge in the nineties. Authors of only two albums Karma (1994) and Astronotus (1996), they lived a few years as absolute protagonists of the alternative Italian rock scene of those years. After ten years of silence, Moretti, who continued to work in the music field behind the scenes, called on Andrea Viti, fresh from the Afterhours experience, which ended last year, to embark on this new musical adventure.

This album can certainly boast of being one of the best Italian products released in recent years, even if it has very little of Italian in it. Its roots can be found in the American music linked to the famous desert sessions of the early nineties, the Californian psychedelia of the '70s, the folk of the west-coast, and solitary songwriters like Cash and Lanegan. Sung entirely in English and recorded after lengthy sessions lasting almost two years, the album generally has an intimate and acoustic mood interrupted by some moments of electric rock.

The start is quick and closely resembles the more punk and nonchalant Queens of the Stone Age, PRODIGAL SONG, placed at the opening, is misleading but enjoyable and direct with the whole band formed by the former Karma Pacho on drums and Andrea Bacchini on guitars with the addition of Steve Melchiorre on guitar and Max Prandi on harmonica.
THE FLESH SONG has the task of indicating the path the album will take. A song almost in the vein of Neil Young with the organ of Gianluca Mancini creating a bewitching psychedelic and desert carpet and an electric finale. I SAW YOU is a good effort by Andrea Viti who tries his hand at singing and plays almost all the instruments, making up for years spent in the background with Afterhours. An acoustic blues reminiscent of some of the best David Crosby with an again electric and choral finale.

SOMEONE BETTER is a stoner rock'n'roll that seems to have come again from the pen of Josh Homme. 3 LITTLE LUSTS, one of my favorites with a great Moretti who plays at being Mark Lanegan. SKIN & BONES still recalls the solo works of the former Screaming Trees and has a particular organ that outlines the guiding line where the electric guitars intertwine. MERRY ROUND is a splendid ballad with the best vocal performance by Moretti tackling splendid vocalizations and also engaging with the slide. Very close to American folk singer-songwriter style. DESERT TREE, the title says it all. A song that makes us imagine being in the middle of a desert in complete solitude thanks to slides guitars and Rhodes organ.

BLACK CLOUDS brings back to life the great JOHNNY CASH. Country-western atmospheres. ROSE is a heartfelt song where Johnny Cash's spirit marries Lanegan's darkness before spilling into an irresistible and evocative chorus. Great song. In the finale, we find the long DEMON LOVER, almost Pink Floydian in its progress, where Xabier Iriondo, former guitarist of Afterhours, appears as a guest. Nine psychedelic and noise minutes that conclude an unexpectedly beautiful and hypnotic album.

Sorry if to describe the songs I made continuous comparisons with great artists, but it was the only way to convey what this album is. I just hope it doesn't go unnoticed because it would truly be a crime not to give the rightful tribute to the return of the Moretti-Viti duo as protagonists, which apparently will also continue live. Highly recommended.