Probably his best studio album
06/09/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First published in 1987 as a DOUBLE cd (please avoid the single-cd reprint, which omits half of the original record), 'Aguaplano' is arguably Paolo Conte's best studio work. Though stuffed with great songs (try for example the wonderful 'Appunti di viaggio'), many of Conte's previous albums could suffer from lack of production and unsatisfying arrangements: that's why most of his earlier material is generally best heard on his later live albums, such as the indispensables 'Concerti' and 'Max Live in Canada'. These are also, incidentally, the best way for newcomers to get acquaintance with Conte's work, the available best-ofs being more patchy and less convincing. Released at a time when Conte's qualities as a performer/arranger were getting stronger, and his qualities as a songwriter hadn't begun to fade yet, 'Aguaplano' is pure rapture from start to finish. Highly recommended."