OSSI
OSSI

This album, released under the name OSSI, presents itself with a decidedly psychedelic cover. As an old frequenter of the Italian garage-punk and neo-psychedelic scene, it immediately caught my attention. In reality, behind this enigmatic acronym, we find Vittorio Nistri and Simone Tilli, two members of the Deadburger Factory. For those who have listened to Deadburger's records in the past, I must immediately say that we are faced with completely different music in this case, very much in line with the psychic impulses evoked by the visionary cover. Where Deadburger are the champions of experimental rock looking at the contamination between genres like jazz, electronics, and noise, OSSI have a "past-oriented" vision of music (although, as we will see, only up to a certain point). Their sound is indeed psychedelic rock, which pays tribute to historical names like Fuzztones and Julian Cope but also to current groups like King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Ty Segall. All of this can be explained by the passion that Nistri and Tilli have always had for these sounds. So they decided to enlist some members with the right "feeling" for this new project, and who better than the legendary Dome La Muerte? Dome is the historic guitarist of Not Moving, an important group in the Italian psychedelic scene. Also involved on guitar is Andrea Appino from Zen Circus while on drums we find Bruno Dorella (Ovo, Bachi da Pietra). For three tracks, Carlo Sciannameo from the same Deadburger takes on the bass duties.

Despite the premises, the album sounds much less "revivalist" than one might think. We are not dealing, to be clear, with music that is sterilely imitative of certain 60s models as could have occasionally happened during the mentioned garage-punk revival season. They tried to give OSSI a modern spirit: the experimental attitude of Deadburger inevitably makes an appearance now and then. There's also an electronic component, although it is limited to some essential and raw lines. The lyrics (strictly sung in Italian, another unconventional choice in this genre) are absolutely worth noting for their iconoclast nature. They document the "ultra-weird" reality we live in, as defined by the artists themselves. We find samples of some voices including those of political figures like Salvini and the former Lombardy health councilor Giulio Gallera. Today's Italy is dissected mercilessly in all its follies and contradictions. The tracks are lively and energetic: the overall effect is surreal: typical 60s atmospheres are set in a contemporary context both for the lyrics and for certain sound solutions. Acid guitars right on point and the electronic effects create the right blend. It's like listening to a garage-punk version of the Mothers Of Invention!

The graphic aspect of this work should also be highlighted, of absolute value and very well cared for (in the style that has always distinguished Deadburger), which brings together two contributors from the historic magazine Frigidaire. The little skeleton that stands out on the front cover is by Andrea Pazienza while the logo (also on the front cover) and the monsters on the back cover are the work of Ugo Delucchi (a student of Pazienza). Inside the gatefold cover, there is also a booklet by Delucchi. The graphic project is by Gabriele Manconi. I can only highly recommend this cult album by these fantastic psychedelic storytellers who bring a breath of fresh air to an asphyxiated and depressing Italian music scene.

Available on Bandcamp: https://snowdonia.bandcamp.com/album/ossi-album-su-lp