CINEMANEMICO

Take a strong melody, surround it with noises coming from an electric guitar in the likes of the modern composer Rominetti (Claudio Milano has introduced me to his music), add very raw and harsh lyrics. The album opener "Fame" (Hunger) makes immediately clear which kind of music this album contains. What I think i s the principal characteristic of Nichelodeon, other than the great skill of the band members plus the great voice of Claudio Milano, is the mixture of strong melodies and Avantgarde arrangements. With RIO and Avant music it doesn't happen frequently to find melodies able to fix in your mind and resound for hours and hours. "Fame" is an excellent opener. Piano and voice are the melodic instruments while the others make the noise. "La Mosca Stregata" (The haunted fly) starts instrumental in a sort of chamber rock intro. Art Zoyd is what comes to mind, but after the intro Claudio and the piano go classical. It's incredible how a composition by haendel (from Rinaldo if I'm not wrong) is totally transformed into a psychedelic noisy improvisation which fades into what I personally consider the best song ever released by Nichelodeon.

"Malamore e la Luna" (Badlove and the Moon) is exactly what I was thinking about when i have mentioned melodies which remain in your mind and resounds for days. Try to listen to it just a couple of time and it won't leave your mind.

"Amanti in Guerra" (Lovers in War) is again based mainly on piano and voice. A slow and melodic song with dramatic lyrics. Less noise than on the other tracks.

"La Torre Piu' Alta"(The Highest Tower) is opened by Claudio's vocalizations reminding of Demetrio Stratos. A difficult track which has also been performed live with Walter Calloni (Area). The dark atmospheres like those of Art Bears permeate the track until the vocals stop. The instrumental part is quiet and sad with a strong RIO flavor, especially when it "wakes up" and Claudio is back in a sort of reprise. Funny...he then reads receipts like a chef and tells a story about "gnocchi" disappeared from the pan...to end in a coda made of electronic noise and vocals. The reason is that this song was part of a multemedial performance written by Pellegrino Artusi:

"Cio' Che Rimane"(What's left) brings the melody back to change into a piano riff remainding of Keith Emerson which backgrounds the track with bass notes while the synth takes the lead. Try to separate the melody from the other instruments. Anyway any little piece has its place. The noisy and the melodic parts are very well integrated. I just wonder how much of it is improvised.

"Flower Of Innocence" gives more room to the guitar which here reminds to Fripp and the early King Crimson. It's a short evocative track which can feature in a movie or a documentary soundtrack.

"Disegnando cattedrali di cellule Pt.II" (Drawing Cathedrals of cells Part II) is back to chamber rock. One of the most experimental tracks of an experimental album. A very dark track in the vein of Art Zoyd. In particular I think to Generation Sans Future. Again a menu is read and the final features a jazz vocal solo backed by the crazy arrangements which are omnipresent in this album.

"Il Ladro di Giochi" (The toys thief) Despite the Italian title is sung in English. another crazy set of lyrics on an excellent melody supported by piano while synth and guitar make some noise around. It includes a ghost track which is noisy and chaotic. Perfect for who loves the genre.

An album that I personally love, Inparticular the mentioned Malamore e la Luna which I consider a little masterpiece.

4 solid stars with the temptation for the 5th.