STATE BUONI SE POTETE (SOUNDTRACK)

The first of the three soundtracks released by Angelo Branduardi was for a biographical movie about the life of "San Filippo Neri", a priest who dedicated his life to children. No comments. I don't know his story and I haven't seen the movie. It's not the best period for speaking of catholic priests and children. Let's stop here.

However it's a choir of children that opens the album. The song "Vanita' di Vanita'" is a typical Branduardi's song with a rhythm and a melody that would make Mr Blackmore very happy. It's the choir that makes it very different. It's functional to the story, I think.

"State Buoni Se Potete" is even more typical of the best period of Branduardi. Considering that in this period he was looking to renew his music adding country-blues elements and releasing his poorest albums, the fact of being working on a soundtrack has given him more freedom. This is what he does better.

"Tema di Leonetta" is an instrumental made of strings, flute and harp. Between old Clannad and Vollenweider, it's an excellent track with an absolute value and a strong classical flavor, too.

"Canzone di Cadigia" is a short lullaby sung by a young woman. Who sings is Iris Peynado who is a beautiful actress with no singing skills. This makes her credible as young mother or sister or whatever she does in the movie. A great song shorter than 2 minutes.

"Dans De Filles De Joie" is a violin based instrumental with a Provence flavor. very folk.

"Capitan Gesu'" Is again an instrumental with a medieval mood. It's an acoustic ballad on major chords.

Then there's the first reprise of the album. Another piece of the "Tema di Leonetta". You have to fill a vinyl in some way, isn't it? However the arrangement is a little different from the first version.

Second Reprise: "State Buoni Se Potete" has different lyrics. it's more a prosecution of the first part than just a reprise.

Third reprise: the instrumental version of "Canzone di Cadigia". Excellent as the first version and not put here just as a filler. Why use a 1:20 song as filler?

Fourth reprise: Capitan Gesu with lyrics sung by the children's choir. With this kind of lyrics it sounds like a rhyme.

Fifth reprise: a krautrock version of the main theme...well not properly krautrock, but the tempo is very slow and it sounds like it was electronic. Not bad.

Sixth reprise: "Leonetta" is back again. Still no lyrics but more orchestral. This version makes me think to Vangelis.

Seventh reprise: "Vanita' di Vanita'" again. another version that seems useless in an album but has probably been used in the movie to underline different topic moments.

Eigth and last reprise: This is I think the best version of the main theme. Acoustic guitar, violin and flute. The best Branduardi.

"Sarabanda" closes the album with a classical guitar piece, something in which Branduardi is a master, even though his true instrument is violin. If you like Steve Hackett or Anthony Phillips you can't miss this track.

If there was a specific rating for the soundtracks I'd give it 4 stars. As album I have to say that's non-essential. A bit more than 3 stars.