L'ERA DEL CINGHIALE BIANCO

After his prog rock period (1972-1974), after his experimental-avant-guarde-minimalist period (1975-1978), Franco Battiato returned back to his pop roots with this well known work, the first of a lucky serie of albums that would bring him enormous success.

Battiato never loses his eclectic musical vision and taste for whimsical lyrics but don't wait for another Pollution or Sulle Corde di Aries... you'll be disappointed. Apart from the valuable musicians involved in this project (Alberto Radius of FORMULA 3 fame on excellent guitar, Giusto Pio on violin and Tullio De Piscopo on drums and percussions), the general mood of the record still remains predictable and the very short running time (only 31 mns!) leaves a bad feeling of incompleteness.

Highlights are the opener with a good duet of guitar and violin, the melody of "Magic Shop" and the nice grooves of "Il re del Mondo" and "Strade dell'Est".