LE ORE I GIORNI GLI ANNI

I remember hearing a sample of the title track some where and I immediately started to track down this recording. They hadn't been added to the site here when I picked it up so I set it aside until recently when I noticed they have a new one out, so I thought it was about time I reviewed their debut. The music of MOOGG reminds me quite a bit of DFA as we get a jazzy, Canterbury-like vibe happening. The vocals are excellent and in Italian. In fact the liner notes are all in Italian making it impossible for me to relay anything from there.

The title track as I mentioned won me over right away. It's still one of my favourite songs from 2011. It hits the ground running but then settles into a gorgeous soundscape with vocals. Keys, drums and guitar stand out here. Nice keyboard solo 1 1/2 minutes in then the guitar replaces the keys before 3 minutes as it stays instrumental. The vocals are back before 4 minutes but not for long as another instrumental section takes over until before 6 minutes. The vocals are so good. "Classe 21" is a top three song along with the title track of course. Such a good keyboard/ bass/ drum section to start. Guitar 2 minutes in as the soundscape drives harder. Vocals before 3 minutes. Great sound! Love the tone of the guitar before 3 1/2 minutes and the rhythm section kills. The guitar starts to light it up before 6 minutes and the drumming impresses as usual.

"Il Perche Di Esser Me" has a laid back start as reserved vocals join in. It all turns more passionate 2 minutes in including the vocals. A change after 2 1/2 minutes as the tempo picks up in this keyboard driven instrumental section. Nice bass too. The guitar starts to solo then the vocals return as it stays uptempo although the vocals are brief. "Gli Arroganti" is an instrumental that starts with this repetitive melody until it settles in. Guitar to the fore after a minute. A change before 2 minutes as we get this uptempo soundscape with keyboards, bass and drums leading. Nice. The guitar is lighting it up after 4 minutes. "Responsabilita" is another uptempo soundscape with impressive keys, bass and drums. The vocals join in and they will come and go. "Lunalia" is a relaxed instrumental, quite chilled with a catchy keyboard melody that comes and goes. "Moogugni" is another energetic instrumental with keyboards and guitar sharing the lead. Check out the bass 2 1/2 minutes in.

"Welfare Botanico" is my final top three and this one is close to 15 minutes in length. A spacey intro with cymbals and piano joining in. It kicks in around a minute with a pulsating rhythm and guitar over the top. Some jazzy piano before 2 minutes while the bass throbs. The guitar is back as the flavour changes and is repeated throughout. A beautiful sound before 3 1/2 minutes with those spacey synths. Reserved vocals after 4 1/2 minutes as it settles some. The vocals do become passionate. A change 6 minutes in as it turns instrumental. Nice guitar here. So uplifting. Don't let it end! But they didn't listen as the keys replace the guitar before 8 minutes. The drumming and bass is so good here as usual. A calm after 9 minutes as the drumming, electric piano and bass shine. It's building as the guitar starts to lead before 11 minutes as a former theme is repeated. A calm with vocals follows as it kicks in at 12 minutes. Nice synth work during this rather intense section to end the album.

I want to give this more than 4 stars but I just can't do it. Regardless, this is one amazing recording that fans of DFA and the like should enjoy a lot.