THE PROVINCIALS - Sick

A granite-solid riff and a catchy refrain, a shameless vocal delivery and a lo-fi irreverence steeped in psych-rock that permeates the whole project. This is how "Sick" opens, the rediscovered album by the Campania-based band led by Rosario Memoli.

Pulled out of the drawer after fifteen years of oblivion, the Provincials' second work will certainly surprise those who already missed the appointment with the band's debut record, released in 2011 ("Provolone", itself put out after years of dormancy). For those who did catch on to the Salerno-based musician's band, "Sick" is simply further confirmation of the talent of an outfit that has managed to survive market indifference and can still count today on three quarters of its original members (Luciano Evangelista on bass and Mario Villani on drums, while guitarist Mirko Salvati is no longer part of the group).

"Sick" is a worthy example of dedication and artistic coherence, qualities that in the past marked the line between commercial music and rock culture. Rosario Memoli's indomitable creative drive is the kind that, in other circumstances and other contexts, would have earned praise and support far greater than the decidedly lukewarm, if positive, reception it has received so far. We're talking about a record born with modest ambitions, the fruit of a musically omnivorous personality who, with a fairly distinctive touch, puts forward songs redolent of tangy jangle-pop chords ("Ordinary Ways") or typically sixties acoustic refinement ("Don't Mind"), while at the same time picking up on what was happening in Britain's glorious 80s ("Let Me Cry") or in the American pop-rock revival of the 90s ("Next In Line").

The 2011 recordings, made by Lucio Auciello and remixed by Francesco Tedesco, show no wear from the time spent hidden away in who knows which archive — quite the opposite, they shine for the quality of the songwriting and arrangements.

The Provincials come across as a potential Italian alter-ego to They Might Be Giants, or to the rereadings of rock history carried out by bands like XTC ("Wake Up"): in several instances, Rosario Memoli's approach reminds me of Colin Moulding's way of tackling the 60s and 70s without any apparent common thread.

"Sick" serves as a good omen for the year just begun, an excellent early example of creativity and stubbornness that delights the listener by blending surf and tribal music ("Wasted Mind"), ska and psychedelia ("No Ability"), synth-pop and punk ("Imminent Dullness"), passing unscathed through the nets of rock-blues ("Stars") and pure rock'n'roll horsing around ("Videmus").

In short, "Sick" has everything needed to face a year of essential albums, of lengthy post-rock dissertations, of yet another post-post-punk band, of nu-jazz, experimental electronics and other intellectual digressions. The Provincials are the best vaccine against the pointless chatter of music criticism: 40 minutes to be lived in pure harmony with the most popular spirit of rock music.

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27/01/2026