Verdena
Wow

I step out for just a moment from the lethargic stupor that has lately constituted my modus vivendi during my free time (from work and family commitments), only occasionally (often) awakened and invigorated by moments of bewilderment and anger at what is increasingly happening in what I assumed to be a normal country, to review (shamefully fourth, at least until now) this double album purchased a few days ago for a few lira in one of the "Hyper-Market Museums" of my city.

As I was saying, I arrive fourth, I know, and one shouldn't do that.

But worrying about the "ethical" value of blatantly breaking such a rule (may DeBaser forgive me, I've never done it anyway, at least not in this way) compared to what is happening lately in Italy, is a bit like worrying about stealing an apple from the greengrocer around the corner while everyone is robbing banks.

As I was saying, I am here to review this album.

To understand an album, even before I listen to it, I usually rely on two things: the song titles and the acknowledgments.

The titles of these songs aren't bad, they pique curiosity, very psychedelic ("The Flying Shoes", "Rockets, Harpies, Hell and Flames", "Bed of Flies").

But it's the acknowledgments that intrigue me, and they confirm everything.

Here I read, among others: Brian, Drozd, MGMT.

If I understand correctly, they're all here.

Brian (Wilson), that is Smile and "Miss O'Leary's cow", Drozd, that is the Flaming Lips and the stream of consciousness of Embryonic and the instrumental battles against Yoshimi's pink robots.

And also (just for the acid in the words) the MGMT.

And there's also a lot, indeed mostly, although not thanked, the psychoanalytic paintings of Lucio Battisti's Anima Latina dictating and inspiring melodies and harmonies (very '70s) and much of the "sound" throughout the album.

The last (timid) album by Verdena (to me listened to) I had "rented" from the "former" Napster when, ten years ago, my daughter was still taking her first steps.

Yesterday my daughter, in a fit of bravado, jumped flying down from the bunk bed telling me that from next year, when she goes to middle school, she wants the keys to the house.

In short, one grows up...

As for Verdena, it seems to me I have in my hands an extremely cultured piece of work, original in the assimilation of all its references, never banal, intricate, and at the same time enjoyable.

A very rare thing indeed.

Today, after I don't know how many years, I picked up the guitar and tried to find by ear the chords for "Sorriso in spiaggia pt.1" and "Adoratorio", two of the most "free-spirited" and catchy songs on the album.

What can I say, the saving power of music (just think that lately we also have a Pope on our side, thinking the same thing, though he probably doesn't listen to Verdena...).

The rating given to the album is very (too?) high also because I like to think it was released in Italy at this time and I would like people abroad to talk about such things about us, and not just the other things we all know.

And now, just a moment, I can happily and renewedly return to listen to the eight o'clock news...