CAFFÉ DE LA PAIX

"Caffé de la Paix" is an album of ethno-rock with strong classical influences... In this work the use of electric guitars, keyboards and drums come back in the music of Franco Battiato, along with the use of choirs and ethnical instruments, but "the classical inspiration" and the use of strings, horns and piano is still present... The result is good...

The mood of the opener title track is oneiric and mystic, with strings in the forefront and the use of emphatic choirs to underline some passages... "Fogh in Nakhal" (On the palms) is a traditional song from Iraq arranged and sung in Arab by Battiato... "Atlantide" (with words written by Fleur Jaeggy) is about the mythical continent vanished into the sea and has an almost hypnotic feeling... "Sui giardini della preesistenza" (On the gardens of the pre-existence) is more quiet and reflexive... "I sing again the Good and the splendours of the halcyon days..."

The music flows steadily, surprisingly varied and far from any commercial banality... "Delenda Carthago" has a slow marching beat and an oneiric mood, it's partially sung in Latin and lyrics suggest images of the ancient Romans spreading their civilization... "Ricerca sul terzo" is a kind of raga featuring ethnical acoustic instruments like tabla, sarod and tampoura, strings and more experimental sounds... "Lode all'inviolato" (Praise to the Inviolate) is about the need to "weather the storms" to reach wisdom and joy, it begins with strings and choirs and features a classical atmosphere evolving in a pop rock finale... The final "Haiku" is quiet and ethereal and features some verses in Persian...

In the whole a good album, although perhaps not essential in a prog collection...