Luca Carboni
Pop-up

Bologna, the same. Milan, the same. Love, the same. "Luca the same." After 4 years since "Untitled," the great Luca Carboni releases his new work today, again with a neutral title, "Pop-up," a non-title with multiple interpretations, whether it's the web pop-ups (web that is mentioned in two songs, showing the author's closer embrace of the internet) or the union of "pop," meaning the musical genre, plus "up," meaning "a push towards the audience, upwards," as the author himself says. Eleven songs, the same number of tracks as "Lu*Ca" from 2001, but with very little in common with this album. In fact, "Pop-up" is a damn electronic album with few musicians (just three, Alex Alessandroni Jr. and Christian Rigano on keyboards and Tim Pierce on guitars), the exact opposite of the albums "Do You Really Love Me" and "Self-Portrait." The idea for the album already began in 2013 with producer Michele Canova Iorfida during the making of "Physical and Political," a record that was supposed to be of new tracks but eventually became a reinterpretation of classics by the boy from Bologna in duets with various guests, even quite different from each other.
"Luca the same" is the leading single of "Pop-up," for some a reassertion of the singer's role in the Italian music scene, but rather the declaration of his existential consistency. The video is an homage to Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love," with made-up women miming playing instruments. Furthermore, it (re)cites "I ragazzi che si amano" by Jacques Prevert, following the 1989 namesake song. As mentioned in the introductory section, Milan and Bologna, or "Italy's New York, the city of economic achievement" but also the affection for a cousin who is no longer there, and "his city," the always mentioned and loved Bologna, "a rule" indeed. Electronics, but also a return to melody in "La nostra strada," further poetry in "Chiedo scusa," quoting Wislawa Szymborska (to whom Roberto Vecchioni also dedicated a song two years ago), a dialogue with one's conscience. Luca Carboni, an author of clear Catholic influence, as stated in many interviews, then offers "Dio in cosa crede," more a question posed by a child than a theological discourse, with naivety. "Pop-up" is a heterogeneous album in arrangements and themes, indeed there is electronics but also a more acoustic guitar, and love returns more explicitly in "Tanto tantissimo." The irony of "Dieci minuti" dedicated to the endless minutes women make us wait is not lacking, where at a certain point Luca mentions a "rap space," revealing that there should have been a rapper at that point, as has been popular in recent years. Also in the text is "ModenaNord," a word Luca wanted to include in his song since 1985(!), the year of "Forever," which has a title affinity with this work 30 years later. Continuing to listen to this album, we have "Happy," a philosophy of being happy without necessarily being first in life, "Epico," a reflection on time, a topic dear to the author of "Silvia lo sai" (think of "Tempo che passi," "Per tutto il tempo," "Sto perdendo tempo"), despite an "ancient" title. Ancient, in line with the title of the track, is also the arrangement, with a light classical hint. It all ends with "Invincibili," the only track recorded as it was born, that is, piano and voice, as if to disavow all the electronic framework of the work or to want to see it as it was born, bare. A song about oneself, about the work of songwriters and the power of love songs. A statement of intent.
End. Or rather, there is, after the cover with a photo in sunglasses and a jean jacket, the back, curiously with the titles all written attached together.
The tour will start in 2016, to have time to prepare everything at its best, both from a sound and visual perspective. Welcome back Luca, you are always the same, yet each time you are new. Just below 4 stars.