Jun 21, 2005 With an intoxicating blend of Italian songs from the 50s and 60s and contemporary music inspired by this bygone era, Italian Caf is a charming collection.
6/21/2005
Review
This is a charming, if ultimately fairly inconsequential, collection of recordings from 1950s and 1960s Italy, along with a handful of songs by a few modern artists whose stylistic roots go back to the postwar era as well. The overall sound may come across as a bit kitschy to American ears -- there are lots of accordions and crooning, emotive vocals -- but if you spend some time with these recordings most of them will grow on you. Highlights include the quirky Vinicio Capossela's 'Che Cossè l'Amor,' Quadro Nuevo's jazzy instrumental 'Tu Vuo' Fa' l'Americano,' and Quartetto Cetra's slightly cute but really very engaging 'Un Bacio a Mezzanotte.' On the slightly less compelling side are Gianmaria Testa's contributions, the willfully goofy 'Dentro al Cinema' and the self-consciously intense (and ultimately self-parodying) 'La Traiettorie delle Mongolfiere,' but the high points outweigh the low ones on this ultimately charming collection. Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson
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#TrackArtistLength
1Juke BoxFred Buscaglione2:23
2Un Bacio a MezzanotteQuartetto Cetra2:14
3CannelloniGiorgio Conte2:55
4Che Cossè l'AmorVinicio Capossela4:14
5Petali e MirtoMaria Pierantoni Giua3:22
6Gnè GnèGiorgio Conte3:27
7Piccolissima SerenataRenato Carosone3:20
8Dentro al CinemaGianmaria Testa3:42
9Le Cose in ComuneDaniele Silvestri4:16
10Tu Vuo' Fa' l'AmericanoQuadro Nuevo3:57
11La Traiettorie delle MongolfiereGianmaria Testa3:29