Samuele Bersani
Freak

THE REVIEW

Hola everyone. I finally have the chance to write a review on one of the best Italian albums of the Nineties, namely FREAK, released 48 hours after the tragic end of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana.

True or metaphorical Trials, Walls, Escapes, and Clouds are the themes that more or less seal this work of Bersani that I am talking about here, starting with the title track [present in the credits of as many as 4 tracks]. It's a blend far from trivial between Pop d’autore and traditional Romagnol melodies, where there is a strong display of the desire not to give up or be crushed, and an aversion to hippie rhythms. We have slightly veiled denunciatory lyrics in Capo, Barcarola Albanese [with moving orchestration], and the intense Fedina Penale and Piccolo Macellaio, which combine something "futuristic" with the fleeting intuition of the period following Tangentopoli [-jump on the slice and let’s get out of here!]; there is a return to semi-dramaturgical calm in Cado giù, where sodomizing clouds can galvanize us [!], close to [and in my opinion not too much] an old-type Jovanotti Cherubini, worth listening twice: such as "Barabba" or "Parola".

The precarious walls of brotherly love in Restiamo ancora qui--Due anni fa, musically one of the weakest [but I save it for its words, vocal purity, and intention] and the famous Spaccacuore which, without delving deep, "the walls know it well too": forgetful of the punctual, disassembled, faded, emptied, and vividly unbearable guise of Laura Pausine 13 years later, or some humble Live version from Fez-valbar, here, it gives us chills, dammit.

To conclude, the two covers: the shrewd Cosa vuoi da Me aka Glastonbury Song by the English WaterBoys, and IL LEONE E LA GALLINA by Mogol-Battisti, this other one not scandalous, but still monotonous and filler. and a gush of contemplation La fine di una storia [perfectly accordionized...].

Besides the singer and the good protective Ragno, credit goes to Luca and Fabio Testoni, who were then actively working with Francesco Antoni[!], and Iskra Menarini. Fin.