Giorni Felici

Longtime members of the Italian rock improv community, synthesist/sampler Piero Chianura and guitarist Luciano Margorani were involved in various individual projects and collaborations with other artists throughout the 1990s, but the only readily available recorded evidence of their work as a duo is a 1995 release, Jouer. Spielen. To Play, and this 1997 effort — both recorded on the Italian Materiali Solari label. The earlier CD included an additional guitarist, Roberto Zorzi, and two guest drummers, Charles Hayward and Chris Cutler, who more or less shared the drum chair. This later CD likewise includes several prominent names as guest artists — most notably the globetrotting guitarist Henry Kaiser, who contributes some guitar licks and a touch of Synclavier keyboards. Sampling genius John Oswald of Plunderphonics fame also provides a few bursts of "free" saxophone honks and squeals, but the two North American musicians really appear on only two of the 12 tracks, and the only other significant collaborator is vocalist/poet Fausto Rossi, who recites on several pieces and adds odd vocal coloring to several others. The music on the 1994 recording was quasi-improvisational and rather unfocused, but the two principle musicians are fully in charge on this newer recording, and the compositions are short and relatively tight. Improvisation may not have been abandoned altogether, but there's nothing unfocused about the music on this CD. The "live" drummers aren't really missed, and in fact their absence may have allowed Chianura and Margorani to assert more control over the music this time around. The two collaborators display decent skills as drum programmers, creating a very satisfactory rhythmic foundation on most tracks. Margorani's guitar is the feature instrument, and he's a fine guitarist, playing acoustic, electric, and even slide guitar in a style that's a seamless blend of instrumental folk, prog rock, and techno, with occasional forays into something a little more experimental. Chianura is generally in charge of bass, drum loops, synth embellishments, and vocal samples. The two recitations by Rossi are in Italian, but translations in the CD notes reveal the lyrics to be sensitive and intelligent. The instrumental backing on both of these tracks is moody and appropriately ambient. The overall quality of the CD is somehow very Italian — somewhat quirky, occasionally lively, and on the whole very lyrical, civilized, and entertaining. It doesn't make a strong first impression, but will undoubtedly maintain its charm over the long haul.