BATTIATO [AKA: ZÂ]

Franco Battiato.. wow... where to start with him. With one that hasn't been reviewed yet of course hahha. Before I tackle trying to review the 10 albums I have from him so far (with more to come of course).. I'd like to give a shout out to the person who really lit my interest in Battiato. No, it's not who you think it is hahhaha. Our dearest friend, and master of laughs and good times himself Mr. Philippe Blache. In a thread on Italian avant artists some time back, he described Battiato as a boring artist. Well, knowing just how Philippe and I see eye to eye. I knew I had to check him out. Best 'suggestion' I've got from anyone here at the Archiives hahah. Thanks Philippe. *couple of clappies*

Now to the album itself. Battiato's musical meanaderings are well notated in his bio so it's enough to say this this album is from the late 70's which should say enough if you are familiar at all with his music.

This album released in 1977 consists of two 'songs'. Battiato in this time was experimenting with avant minimalism. I have to say that if you haven't heard avant prog minimalism, let just say that whatever you are hearing in your mind... is probably really close to the truth hahha. It's a challenge to listen to, I won't lie to you there. The first song Zâ is just short of 20 minutes of the same piano chord repeated... over and over and over. Pretty cool stuff..

needless to say... I don't listen too much to that one. Though I must admit, I've sat through it several times. It is great music for a rainy Sunday morning .... just remember the headphones so your wife or girlfriend doesn't toss your stereo out the window.

The second side with the track Cafè-Table-Musik is far more interesting and if fact earns the stars this album will get from me. The piano playing is simply fabulous.. and more than offsets the female singer who sounds worse than I do in the shower doing my Joplin immitations. If the first song is for a rainy Sunday mornings.. this one is for spending this the rest of the day makiing love in front of a roaring fireplace. The shrill vocal parts aside.. absolutely lovely piano playing. Very romantic. The minimalism works so well here.. it's like the piano speaks only to you.. there's nothing else to get in the way.

An interesting album and one I have to admit I really do like. 3 stars for me.. almost 4 stars. For the forum at large... 2 stars. Fans of Battiato only.. or those who are into the freaky avant experimental stuff. I normally am not.. but I'm such a huge fan of Battiato, and this was not my first album from him, so I've come to understand this is the work of an artist and was a step in a progression from the solid prog rock of Pollution to his later albums. A true artist and musical pioneer.

Michael (aka micky)