CINEMANEMICO

Nichelodeon are an Italian quartet made up of vocalist Claudio Milano, Francesco Zago (Yugen) on electric guitar, Maurizio Fasoli (Yugen) on piano and Riccardo Di Paola on synths. The songs on this album are several years old and were played by various lineups and ensembles in shows and were brought under one umbrella in this album to create a theatrical or rather a cinematic musical piece that will bewitch its listener with its weird and sometimes creepy sounds and tunes.

Odd and eerie, cinematic yet minimalistic in scope, Nichelodeon presents quite a bizarre album. made up of four musicians, yet with no rhythm section; no drums and percussions are to be heard here, only synths, piano, guitar and vocals. Claudio Milano's voice is perfect for this setting, as it has a haunting quality that captures my ears and casts a spellbinding effect. It's very much in line with the type of music they play; it could fit a scary movie, reminiscent somewhat of the feelings I have when listening to Art Zoyd and other bands of this ilk (feelings the music invokes; I don't mean they sound like them). The album runs as a soundtrack, with the songs flowing into each other. As such it makes me listen to the album as one piece, experienced in full and not as separate songs. Those are mostly downbeat, low key and not exactly quiet but not particularly loud, yet with a very strong presence. The piano is ever present here with Claudio's vocals as well and effects surrounding the two, all giving the minimalism effect of the album. While it is not devoid of melody, and there is beauty in the various songs here, it is the atmosphere that seems to be the aim here; it is indeed what the most pleasant thing about this album is for me. The thoughts and feelings it evokes while listening. The somber and somewhat grim mood of the songs along with the odd sounding effects bring the experience to a higher plane that it would have without it.

At first listens this album didn't sound too particular or striking to me but with further focused and concentrated listens I was able to "make contact" with the feelings and the moods the musicians here conjure up and those are very well done; particularly given that they use few instruments and that the music, while seeming dull at first listen or exposure to a new listener, can hold up so much inside.

This is a fascinating listen. If you're willing to put in an effort to listen to an album, if you like an album that is more like a journey that evokes pleasure through its sounds and moods, if you like the way musicians use manipulation of sounds and are less concerned with an actual catchy tune, then this should be experienced. If you like the style and the experience that musicians and bands like Art Zoyd and Diamanda Galas create, then this is recommended.

3.5 stars