Pierpaolo Vettori - Melalcoholic Angel

From "Melalcoholic Angel" (1999, Beware! Rec.) -- Track #14

All songs written, played & arranged by Pier Paolo Vettori
Cover drawing by Robert Wyatt

From the golden era of lo-fi pop, "Melalcoholic Angel" (1999, Beware! Rec.) was and sadly still remains the first and only record from gifted italian popsmith Pierpaolo Vettori. From his home near Turin, Vettori delivered a staggering collection of perfectly crafted tunes, a gallimaufry of Ray Davies, Kevin Ayers, Jonathan Richman and Daniel Johnston. Sung (mostly) in English, the themes of the lyrics encompass virgin men, young lovers, unbearable lies, pre-millennium tension, factory rivers and St.Paul (not that St.Paul). Out of time, out of fashion, sometimes out of tune, but always close to the heart. The tune "Anywhere" was covered by famous Italian indie-band (and at the time Vettori label-mates) Perturbazione, as a ghost track on their very first album Waiting To Happen (1998, On/Off Rec.). The album art cover is a drawing made by Robert Wyatt himself, a longtime pen-friend of Vettori. Unfortunately there was no single, no video and for that matter no sophomore record, as Vettori quietly disappeared from view. Without sub-par lacklustre material, "Melalcoholic Angel" is all killer no filler. A buried pop treasure well worth the search, and a true gem of a record. (Carlo Bordone)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Pier Paolo Vettori
• lo-fi pop
• Melalcoholic Angel