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THE REVIEW
Xabier Iriondo, a historic figure in the Italian scene, has a 360-degree musical conception. From Afterhours to pure experimentation, from Six War Madness to collaborations with Damo Suzuki, from Short Apnea to inventions of new musical instruments.
"Irrintzi" is the mirror of his chameleon-like and multifaceted personality, a distillation of his experiences. Genres, vastly different sounds that, to the great credit of the author, blend perfectly making the album homogeneous and, all things considered, enjoyable to listen to despite its experimental nature.
In "Irrintzi", his first solo work, various worlds are explored, all part of Xabier's universe.
The etno meta folk of "Elektraren Aurreskua", a homage to his Basque origins, gets the ball rolling.
With "Il Cielo Sfondato" we open a window onto a chaotic, hallucinated Indian metropolis, with a repetitive melody marked by a traditional string instrument scarred by an acid sax.
The noisy Xabier is presented to us in tracks like "Irrintzi", "Itziar En Semea", electronic noise rides. In the cover "Reason to Believe", Bruce Springsteen kicked by the Suicide, in the amphetamine avant-noise reinterpretation of Motorhead's "the Hammer".
"Gernika Eta Bermeo" the most experimental piece, is a journey into memory. Xabier's father relives the 1937 bombing of Guernica with the backdrop of notes from a chordophone, an instrument created by Xabier.
The Italian tradition is revisited in "Preferirei Piuttosto Gente Per Bene Gente Per Male". A reinterpretation of a track by Francesco Currà, author of an unknown "Rapsodia Meccanica" which merges perfectly with "Gente Bene Gente per Male", a Lucio Battisti resurrected in a noise-oriented key.
The work closes with "Cold Turkey" by John Lennon, a more canonical track that reflects the Afterhours experience. The album's weak link.
An album with strong ideological undertones, paying tribute to a great, deliberately in the shadows, figure in Italian music.
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Summary by Bot
Xabier Iriondo's 'Irrintzi' showcases his chameleon-like musical personality through a rich blend of experimental sounds, folk roots, and avant-garde noise. The album is a cohesive exploration of various musical worlds, paying homage to his Basque heritage and Italian influences. Strong ideological themes and inventive instrumentation enrich the listening experience. Though mostly successful, the final track stands out as a weaker link. Overall, it's a compelling solo debut from a key figure in Italian alternative music.
