GOMMALACCA

Recorded in 1998 and released the same year. The single taken off the album was the first track Shock in My Town.It would be apparent to anyone who knows me that I have come across this great artist through this site and its members.

I am surprised that this album is not mentioned more on the site with elements of prog,world,pop,rock and classical it is a wonderful of almagamation of styles which only be done by a talented musician such as Battiato. There is no one like Battiato and he is his own man with a distinctive style.

The majority of the album as sung in Italian of course with English being used only in a small section of the first track. Of his later albums this would be my favourite and has great songs with typical panache that is Battiato.

There is prog on this album. That is apparent on track 6 and what a great song Il Mantello De La Spiga ( The Cape and The Ear) Track 4 Il Ballo Del Potere ( The Power of the Dance) has elements of world music throughout and a great groove. Even a mention of the Australian Aborigine.

Three other tracks that I will mention are 8. Quello Che Fu ( prog) and great. Crunchy guitar with distortion,quiet verse and a whopper of a chorus. The first one Shock in My Town is pop fair but catchy and the last track is a homage to Shackleton the great Antartic Explorer and how he saved his crew when he set off to South Georgia in a what was basically a lifeboat and saved them all after their ship was crushed in the ice during the time of the great war in 1915.

Masterpiece and 5 stars without even having to ponder over this album. A must have for any Battiato Fan or anyone interested in truly original music. Also special mention must go to the cover. The simplest things can make for stunning visual presentation.