reviews / 2011

BANJO OR FREAKOUT - Banjo Or Freakout

Name: BANJO OR FREAKOUT – Banjo Or Freakout
Item: Banjo Or Freakout
Rating: 6
Author: Francesco Nunziata

2011 (Memphis Industries)

pop

by Francesco Nunziata

Formerly the voice and guitar of Disco Drive, now based in London, Alessio Natalizia is, as a solo artist, Banjo Or Freakout, and on this self-titled work he crafts a delicate and essentially harmless slice of dreamy pop, at times - one might say! - bored by choice, the stuff of a pseudo-existentialist poseur.

In some ways close to the indolence of certain Bradford Cox output (both Atlas Sound - "105" - and Deerhunter, though here with relatively more substance - "Go Ahead", "Move Out", "Black Scratches"), Natalizia also works around more or less overt krautrock echoes ("Can't Be Mad For Nothing", "Dear Me"), doling out gentleness and candor pretty much everywhere and reaching, in that respect, its peak on the closing notes of "I Don't Want To Start All Over Again". Cunning and a fair amount of skill also help him never overreach, which for now is already a good thing, though alongside an "Idiot Rain" that wags its tail deliciously and engagingly, with a light, timid guitar shimmer, there's also, say, "Fully Enjoy" and "From Everyone Above", which betray one too many uncertainties, casting an increasingly unconvincing light on everything else.

In short, one of those records worth listening to with some pleasure, but without paying too much attention to the buzz stirred up by the previous Eps, 7"s and cassettes.

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google

11/02/2011

Share on

This article is an English translation of the original Italian text by Francesco Nunziata, published on OndaRock.it. It was translated with the help of artificial intelligence, under the editorial responsibility of OndaRock's editor-in-chief, Claudio Fabretti.

Read the original in Italian · About the English edition