DIECI STRATAGEMMI

In 1979, Battiato left the world pf prog and experimental music for a special kind of pop approach to songwritting. More than twenty years later, some of the sounds that made him one of the most important proggers in Italy have come back with this album.

That's not saying this is a completly prog CD nor a follow up to "Sulle Corde Di Aries" (his last effort before going more experimental than prog-rock). What you can find in this CD is another evolution in his sound that gets him again closer to rock and more adventurous things that you could find in his most famous 80's output.

You can stll have some pop tracks ("Odore di polvere da sparo" or the oriental-ish "Le aquile non volano") or his calm, classical-influenced songs he made in the 90s ("La porta dello spavento supremo"), but most of the time the complexity of the arrangements are the main point of each song: the strangeness of the single "Ermeneutica" or "23 coppie di cromosomi", wich could have been feeatured in "Pollution" or "Fetus". And let's not forget the duet with Cristina Scabbi in "I'm That", a song with perfectly defines the ecclecticism of the CD.

A very short album, but each song is so personal that it feels it has no need of more filler material. Not recommended for the average prog fan, but for those who enjoyed early Battiato and want to catch up with what he's doing now. For the long- time Battiato fan, it's essential.

Comprising 10 songs Deici Stratagemmi ( Ten Stratagies) was released in 2004 with a mixture of Rock,Progressive and a touch of Classical music with some Arabic rythmn thrown in on the odd occasion. Italian is the majority of vocals but there is English used within small portions of tracks and the song I'm That. I would regard this album as the closest one can get back to his early sound when he recorded his first six albums with Blah Blah records and would be the most progressive album from the last 20 years but there is Pop such as the English tune I'm That. Driving beats,Time Changes and plenty of guitar on certain tracks but as with the last listed La Porta Dello Spavento Supremo it is closer to Classical music. As usual a mixture of styles is used on this recording which has become Franco Battiato's trademark with his sound on his later recordings. The album was sub- titled Crossing The Sea to Deceive the Sky. A mix of guest vocalists appear but only share the duties with Franco Battiato.

Tre Sesso e Castita' leads us in and commences with the sound of trumpets and one good heavy chorus could best descibe the structure with the song. The 2nd song on the album Le Aquile Non Volano a Stormi with a distinct Chinese influence and fairly low key but quite beautiful in its own way. Track three Eremeneutica is one strange beast with Franco Battiato narrating the majority of his lyrics( almost rap) and one of the female guests ( Kumi Watanabe) who also appears on two other tracks on the album which leads me in to what must be the standout on the album that being Track 5, Odore Di Polvere Da Sparo and one great song with one driving rythmn and those background voices, noises ,synth sounds. Great Stuff . After this along comes the English song with Battiato's slant on religion and his perspective.Cristina Scabbia shares the vocals and an enjoyable song it is. La Potere Dello Spavento Supremo the last song starts with a folk feel with the vocals of Manlio Sgalambro but a more Classical approach is used as the tune progresses and it has been divided on the album but within the last track and is a nice quiet finisher.Lots of other songs not mentioned of the usual variety from Battiato They are good.

This would be one of his rockiest efforts from his recent catalogue and when the guitar is used it has crunch but Pop is still there but within one hears echoes of his early work and with a mix of his modern world approach you have one different and interesting album.Great Effort