DIECI STRATAGEMMI

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