Search - Angel Branduardi :: Best of

Branduardi: Master of Balad for postmodern folks

Joseph Boenzi | Berkeley, CA USA | 12/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The subtitle of this CD is "Best of" as opposed to "Greatest hits". In fact, all of Angelo Branduardi's greatest hits are contained in this collection, but the difference is that the singer-composer himself has chosen the 15 compositions for this album.



Branduardi's music is ballad-like in quality, and follows the traditions of Northern Italian folk music, while gently interweaving sounds and rhythms of the end of the 2nd millennium (the songs in this collection were first published between 1976 and 1990). Branduardi experiments with a number of new and traditional instruments from Europe and Mediterranean (guitar, violin, dulcimer, oud, kanun, charango, bombo, cassa and maracas). It may surprise some to hear Celtic strains played from the other side of the Alps, but the Celts left their mark even there and Branduardi values that heritage.



The entire album is sung in Italian, but the album notes offer descriptions of each work, as well as a biographcial sketch of the singer-composer, in English. Curiously, in those album notes Branduardi describes his songs with "flavor" images rather than sound images: it is not out of place, then, to say to the listeners "Buon Appetito" as well as "Buon Ascolto!" (Enjoy the meal and happy listening to you!)"