COGLI LA PRIMA MELA

Angelo Branduardi blows a gentle goodbye kiss to the 1970s with his musical integrity intact. Whether this is tastefully orchestrated soft rock with heavy folk accents, or perhaps folk oriented rock with orchestral flourishes, it is an utterly guileless work of honour.

The album opens with arguably its best track, the lively Latin spiced title cut with Branduardi's voice and violin taking hold of a delightful melody flawlessly arranged. From there it is barely a step down to the magical balladry of "Se tu sei cielo", the Battiato-like "La Strega", the timeless lullaby-styled tune conveyed by "La Raccolta", and the airily bouncy "Colori".

The only truly weak spot is the ineffectual pop of "Il Gufo E Il Pavone", although the traditionally Celtic "Donna Ti Voglio Cantare" does not add a whole lot to either the disk or the legacy, and "Il Signore Di Baux" is a bit too soundtrack-y, the warmth of Branduardi's strings overruled by a military rigidity. The closing cut is a bit drawn out but does conclude with sweet acoustic guitar re-iteration of the main theme.

All in all, another top shelf contribution by this Italian talent, awaiting discovery by those not bound to peer pressure in prog folk and RPI circles and beyond.

This album was announced in Italy by a lot of advertising. After the success of "La Fiera Dell'Est" and "La Pulce D'Acqua" the RCA label company decided to invest some money on the "minstrel" as Angelo was actually called, so he had a better production, too.

Fans of Blackmore's Nights will surely like the mixture of British and Andine music of the title track on which instruments like chitarrone and bandurria and oud add an esotic touch to a song that otherwise would have been everything but a highlight.

"Se Tu Sei Cielo"(If You Were Sky) is a ballad in the usual Branduardi's style, but the rich production with a string orchestra canceled the usual medieval mood so that the result is more pop than folk.

"La Strega"(The Witch) has an odd signature and sounds like the "old" Branduardi. Harp and Dulcimer are well inserted into the pop arrangement. The attempt by the label to make Angelo appetible for the mainstream public is evident. The song is not bad but it sounds less spontaneous than usual.

The usual Branduardi and his medieval leids are back with "Donna Ti Voglio Cantare" (Woman I want to sing you). A hymn to the concept of "woman" as a medieval minstrel could have composed it.

"La Raccolta"(The Harvest) is a slow song about the time of wheat harvest and summer inspired to the imagine of a young girl. This is the true Branduardi.

"Colori" (Colors) seems influenced by the "Inti Illimani". They were a Chilean folk band escaped to Italy after the Pinochet's putsch. Like the title track it has a south american flavor.

"Il Signore Di Baux" (The Lord of Baux) is a medieval ballad. I don't know if it's a trditional or just like a traditional, but this is surely what fans of prog-folk can look for. If you like Blackmore's Night or also Alan Stivell this is your pot.

"Il Gufo E Il Pavone" (The Owl and the Peacock) misses its target. It's nothing special from both the music and the lyrics side. Forgettable.

"Ninnananna" (Lullaby) closes the album with a strings introduction after which Angelo's dreamy voice sings of a girl abandoning her infant in his cradle to the sea. Lyrically and musically speaking is probably the best song.

Not a bad album at all, but it's the one since which I started loosing my interest in this artist. The rich production and maybe the advertising, too, gave me the impression that Angelo was loosing his spontaneity as author. It's good enough for the three stars but surely not something to start with if you want to discover this artist.