Pantagruel Franco Battiato

The legendary concert tribute to Franco Battiato by Gates of Memory, Which Has Been Held at the Teatro Dante in Castellanza on November 26th 2010, is finally released on CD and DVD. The group features musicians of the early historical works of Franco Battiato: Gianfranco D'Adda and Mario Dalla Stella, as well as newcomers such as Paul "Ske" Botta (Yugen, Not a good sign), Mauro Galbersanini, Roberta Pagani and Carlo Cilibrasi…

Franco Battiato is one of the most successful singers in Italy. He began his career as a "light" singer, recording a few singles. In 1971 he started his particular journey through experimental music, recording his proggiest issues: "Fetus", "Pollution", "Sulle corde di Aries". Some very atmospheric parts and some very melodic songs make these records worthwhile, along with musical references to the arabic culture and italian folk that will surface from time to time in all of his following output. His next records are gradually more and more experimental, exploring minimalism and culminating with "L' Egitto prime delle Sabbie", with two long pieces based on hardly one note and its harmonics.

Franco Battiato is one of the most successful singers in Italy. He began his career as a "light" singer, recording a few singles. In 1971 he started his particular journey through experimental music, recording his proggiest issues: "Fetus", "Pollution", "Sulle corde di Aries". Some very atmospheric parts and some very melodic songs make these records worthwhile, along with musical references to the arabic culture and italian folk that will surface from time to time in all of his following output…

"Le nostre anime" is the title of a new Anthology collection of the multi-platinum selling artist Franco Battiato from 1972 until 2015. This is not a simple Best Of, as all tracks have been re-mixed and re-mastered to create new versions of every track. There are 2 brand new studio songs, 1 orchestra new song and a great duet with MIKA. Franco Battiato is a huge star in Italy - a creative genius with an output that spans full length Classical pieces as well as pop, rock and electronica albums., Battiato has been at the forefront of Italian music since the early 1970s. Loved by the critics, Battiato has been variously compared to diverse artists including Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, Phillip Glass, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Scott Walker and Jim O'Rourke.

In 1979, after some years of soporific avant-garde, Franco Battiato woke up and turned his attention to the public. However "L'Era Del Cinghiale Bianco" is not just an easy pop album or a bleak effort to reach a commercial success. In that period the "Halcyon days" of prog were gone and Franco Battiato, like many other artists, was looking for new musical ways. Here classical music and Mediterranean and Middle- Eastern folk influences are blended with rock and pop in a very personal way, with the help of a group of excellent musicians. Lyrics don't tell stories but the words are just like "flashes" trying to suggest imagines. The result is surprisingly good! The album is short (it lasts only 31 minutes) but every track is worth listen to. "L'Era Del Cinghiale Bianco" is still far from the clever pop of Battiato's following albums and in the whole it could be an excellent addition to an Italian prog collection.