Sacri
Cuori – Delone (Glitterbeat Records)
LP
/ CD / DL
Out
Now
8
/ 10
Italian
soundtrack and post-folk group release their fourth album.
On
first listen, Delone sounds like a compilation of all those semi-classic
spaghetti western themes that sound familiar even though they’re being heard
for the very first time. Familiarity is a huge strength and helps break down
what may otherwise sound like a haphazard grouping of incidental archive
tracks.
In
reality, the new album from Sacri Cuori is actually a potential
masterpiece. Originally from Romagna the
band also feature guest appearances from members of Sonic Youth, the Tom Waits
band and Mexican favourites Sonido Gallo Negro, and whilst some of the music
holds itself in traditional dance grooves (take La Marabina or the Cumbia
inspired Bendigo – which sometimes sound a little too dated and throwaway for a
modern audience), there are also rather incredible tracks like Delone itself.
The
title track is nothing short of superb.
With Carla Lippis guesting on lead vocals, the Italian Diva that the
band found in Australia, the track is a monster that sounds like a classic from
the 60s catalogue of maybe a Dusty Springfield or similar. Lippis has an incredible voice ranging from
sensual mumble to soaring magnificence, it brings four minutes of classic pop
to a mostly instrumental album.
It’s
true, one track does not an album make, but in those glorious minutes the bar
for the album is well and truly set high.
Even the following rack Billy Strange which has its roots set in a trait
psychedelic channel with basic folk elements sounds far better than it does in
isolation.
Let’s
not criticise the remainder of the album though, as sound bytes and spoken word
add a sense of fun to the proceedings, in fact the closing seconds of the
Delone promo video (please watch it and listen) maybe hint that the band are
slightly off-kilter with normality.
Portami
Via is haunting and plods along lovingly and Serge is a tribute to French
provocateur Gainsbourg as it seductively weaves
a sexual theme and feel accompanied by some slow funk guitar sounds and
Morricone familiar whistles. El
Comisario is almost comical sounding and maybe wouldn’t be out of place on a
children TV show.
Delone
maybe isn’t perfect or a classic, but it’s certainly well worth a listen and to
be given the praise it needs to be for being both exciting and refreshing.
Links
Glitterbeat Records
Sacri Cuori website
Sacri Cuori on Twitter
Sacri Cuori on Facebook
Published on Louder Than War 31/05/15 - here
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