Litfiba
Elettromacumba

Year 2000: Litfiba is in a deep crisis (artistic, not commercial) and the disagreements between frontman Piero Pelù and mastermind Ghigo Renzulli become increasingly intense, leading to the inevitable split (July 11, 1999). Ghigo doesn't give up and recruits the young and unknown singer Gianluigi Cavallo, bassist Gianluva Venier, and drummer Ugo Nativi. Thus begins the highly underrated and much-maligned mk III of Litfiba, debuting on the music market with "Elettromacumba", marking the definitive return to rock after the messy and patchy mainstream pop of "Infinito"; presenting itself as a delightful and smooth album for all its 42 minutes duration, an excellent product of a new musical entity full of the desire to redeem itself and reveal its true self (the photos on the back of the booklet are allegorical in this sense).

The new rock turn of Litfiba is well represented in Elettromacumba by songs like the short and incisive "Piegami" where Renzulli brilliantly dusts off his legendary wah-wah, the tense and pressing "Il Patto", a perfect allegory of temptations and shortcuts to achieve success, the funky and sarcastic title track "Elettromacumba", launched by an intro that simulates a modem connecting, characterized by Ghigo's little choruses and a catchy and seductive rhythm, and especially "Spia" a great rock anthem, all in crescendo with plenty of guitar strumming and a little chorus in the refrain, really engaging and well done.

Of course, it doesn't lack a generous dose of melody, perfectly exemplified by "Il Giardino Della Follia", "Dall'Alba Al Tramonto", and "Profumo". The first is a sunny and summery ballad for acoustic guitar, the second brings us back to the Latin rhythms of "Spirito" and the last is a beautiful and nocturnal serenade, a great atmospheric track that harks back to the primordial atmospheres of the trilogy of power. All three songs share a common trait, poetic lyrics, endowed with a great charge of optimism and carefreeness.

A separate note for "C'Est La Vie", a blues with a slow and almost noir pace, that pokes fun at the star system and especially for the undisputed crown jewel of the album, the beautiful opener "Il Pazzo Che Ride" (alone worth every twenty euros I spent on the album) which I can't describe in any other way than as a beautiful song, with a captivating, airy, and seemingly naïve melody that hides ironic and bittersweet lyrics. Cabo's truly extraordinary performance brings out the best of the magic in this beautiful song, singing the chorus in a really passionate and almost epic manner. Also textbook-worthy is the riff by San Ghigo da Manocalzati and the long instrumental tail that ends the composition in a light and nuanced way.

In conclusion, Elettromacumba is a wonderful album, no lack of style, no desire to skip a song, an almost masterpiece, lacking only a pinch more personality, but representing an excellent overture for what will be the masterpiece of mk III, namely "Insidia".

I would also recommend the legendary video of "Elettromacumba"

LISTEN TO LITFIBA