INNERES AUGE

Recorded in 2009 with ten tracks, six new versions of songs from two previous singles, four albums and four new compositions. Pop seems to be the influence but with maturity within as this album is not designed to to seize a young audience but for someone who has listened to this artists development and feels like something different with a mixture of up tempo songs and ballads if one wants to describe the slower tunes of Battiato with that description but even within these so called ballads the structure is that bit left of field and maybe that is the attraction for so many people with the music that Franco Battiato has created. He is not afraid to be political as with the track Tibet contained within this album Inneres Auges, The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of its Parts.

From the four new compositions Inneres Auge gets the album underway and it is the piano that leads us in to this new up tempo tune from Battiato and as one listens to the album piano dominated could be one description but this gives the tunes their beauty. Rythmn is the master component in track one and drives Inneres Auge along with Battiatos vocals,orchestration and of course that piano.Un'Altra Vita follows which was originally from the album Orizzonti Perdutti and really there is not any changes to the song but is an improvement on the original with the synth being replaced with orchestration and the piano providing the rythmn instead of percussion as on the original release. With the six new versions of prevous releases with the four originals that I know there is no marked difference from the originals and three I think are an improvement but with the song La Qiuete Dopo Un Addio which was was from the album Ferro Battiato I still prefer the original version of this simply beautifully put together track but only just. No Time No Space was off Mondo Lontanissimi and Haiku was from Cafe Del Paix. The tracks Stage Door was from the single Shock in My Town and also with the single Il Ballo Del Potere as was the other new version of L'Incantesimo on that same single .

Tibet the song concerning their political difficulties is Franco Battiato's plea for determination for the country with the line contained within" Keep Your Hands Off Tibet' and is sung in English.There is the odd sprinkle of English throughout the album but primarily it is Italian that is sung.

Piano and Orchestration are the major components but with that electronic mix Although not progressive there is plenty there for the Battiato fan but for someone new from the later albums Gommalcca and Fisiognomica would still be my recommendations but this is still one great listen and maturity seems to be the feel with this as it is beautifully recorded and packaged.and a must for any modern Battiato fan.