Marlene Kuntz
Ho Ucciso Paranoia

After a work like "Il Vile," it was hard to imagine what our four guys from Cuneo could do next: would they follow up with another immense masterpiece? Would they disappoint with a lackluster album (something they would do later on, unfortunately, quite a few times)?

To find out, we have to wait until 1999, when Marlene Kuntz releases "Ho Ucciso Paranoia," which, in its second edition, will be accompanied by a negligible outtakes CD (or at least one I neglect). The album starts off strong with "L'odio Migliore," certainly the best track on the album, full of energy; it feels like listening to their previous work again, and that's a good thing.

But then something happens: already with the next track, "L'Abitudine," you feel something is off, they no longer seem like our Marlene, and it's not just because we're hearing a slower song (just think of "Nuotando Nell'Aria" to understand that Marlene are not only a rowdy band); it's simply that the song doesn't captivate, and the cause seems to be the lyrics, which were once perhaps the group's strong point due to their great naturalness, but now feel artificial and forced.
Musically, the four of them strive as they always have, but the lyrics are truly disappointing. And unfortunately, the album continues like this until the end, except for the last two tracks, which are undoubtedly, along with the first one, the best, where some of that magic that M.K. had previously been able to give us is restored.

In conclusion, it's not a despicable album and it’s easy to listen to, but it can't stand up to the comparison with the two previous masterpieces; if nothing else, "Ho Ucciso Paranoia" won't be an embarrassing and idea-less album like those that will follow. And besides, it wasn't easy to produce a follow-up that could match "Il Vile." But there you have it.