IL VUOTO

This to me is a fairly low key pop album that has it moments and when they do happen they are good but there really is nothing new or different happening for me with this album. The tracks that I seem to prefer are the ones with primarily Battiato on his own and occasionally throughout in the future when I play this album I will be track skipping. Throughout there is a fair bit of English used but Franco Battiato sounds so much better when he sings in his native language.

The album starts of with the title track Il Vuoto ( The Empty) and is basically pop fare with the 3 girls providing assistance on vocals. The song is almost one rythmn with the vocals at time almost sounding like a chant throughout. The songs concerns the stress of living and time is basically not enough of it and really is not a high point with this recording. The third track Aspettando L'estate is one of my favourites of this album with track 4. Niente e Come Sembra both are fairly low key and the orchestra is the prime mover behind them and they are simply lovely tunes with Niente e Como Sembra being the more interesting track for me off the two.

The song The Game is Over which features the 3 girls from Mab just does not work and really I feel is something I would find recommended in modern electronic dance music and the following track Era I'inizio Della Primavera I find the melody annoying due to the simplicity in sections. I find the singing isn't any better.

Thankfully things pick up again for Lo Chi Sono the following track and after that Stati Di Gioia.

This would not be in Franco's top albums but neither is it a low point either. This album is worth 3 stars it is not a bad album and there are some great tunes but a distinct lack of prog.

Note: Alice Dionis ( Mad Jeremy) is not the same Alice who Battiato has worked with previously who surname is Visconti