We have had certain names passing through the Belpaese that no one (or almost no one) paid much attention to. We listen to so much music from overseas and miss those we could nurture at home, see more often live perhaps, have a chat.

I believe I've attended more concerts in my life than albums I've listened to, yet I ended up missing them, what a pity. My good intentions crashed against a sign hung in front of the stage:

“CAUSA INFORTUNIO CANTANTE/CHITARRISTA CONCERTO YUPPIE FLU ANNULLATO.”

The Yuppie Flu, what a great band… with this album they almost completely break away from that label of the Italian version of the Pavement, assigned to them by industry critics and, as often happens, reductive.

There is already all the psychedelia and freak attitude, carried on in the States by formations such as Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips, that in the following years the band will develop until achieving those masterpieces which are "Days Before the Day" (Homesleep 2003) and "Toast Masters" (Homesleep 2005). If you like these two titles, here you will hear where it all started.

A music system that failed to keep them, to give them a hope of life; too hard to carry on a band in Italy and at the same time maintain a family. Those who made it either made the true leap in audience, or remain in the limbo of cultural martyrs.

After that splendid finale that is "Back Home" I hope they really returned home serene, at least satisfied with what they left us to listen to.

I would like to meet you Matteo and tell you that I still keep that sign, hung there, behind the computer. Every day I read it and in the end, I understand why you decided to close up shop, many greetings and whoever saw it, saw it.

I'm content with your music, that will remain forever.

Tracklist

01   Sport Yer Feelings (03:12)

02   Private Eye at the Zoo (01:05)

03   The Fairy Tales of Young Robin (05:50)

04   Ambassadors (07:43)

05   Wheel Deal (06:03)

06   Stolen Boat… (02:36)

07   …Sinking Thief (09:26)

08   Silver Rain (03:16)

09   Retirement Speech (04:32)

10   Gummo (00:56)

11   Wise Hitch-Hiker Handbook (03:14)

12   Back Home (02:56)

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