Italian Americana
Guano Padano is a dynamic force of Italian experimental prowess. Achieving the Mike Patton rubber stamp of approval through the release of both their 2012 release of 2 and their recent release Americana, this band has proven time again that they are masters of psychedelic weirdness that will serve as the background tunes to many of life’s important moments. Americana is a grand master styling and experimental modernization of the traditional Americana and Western music and would cause even the most serious cowboy to tip his hat.
This album starts off with “The Hushed Universe,” a beautiful piano led introduction with the creaks, whistles and twangy steel guitar accents that present the images of a New Mexican sunset or clear night star gazing in the deserts of the Southwest. This beautiful and atmospheric song breaks into “Pian Della Tortilla” as the cowboy mounts his steed and rides into the sunrise on a true adventure. The album continues with gems of Western-influenced instrumentals full of atmospheric and deep moments brought about by unique instruments, synthesized glitched pianos, dulcimers, and a plethora of other sounds that have been cast out in the quest for musical modernization.
The true sparkling diamonds of this album aren’t necessarily found in the beautiful imagery or curious moments of anticipation, but rather the insertion of old vocal audio samples in songs like “My Town.” This song is reminiscent of William S. Burroughs’ reading of “The ‘Priest’ they Called Him” recorded to the backdrop of Kurt Cobain’s feedback heavy “Star-Spangled Banner.” Whereas Burroughs and Cobain created an extremely rough recording and did not blend well, Guano Padano nailed the feeling that the two legends tried to create. “My Town” is easily one of the best and most intriguing songs of this album for the mellow-hearted. For the spastic noise-loving fans of Patton’s own handy-work, Guano Padano includes the song “My Banjo Dog,” a banjo-fueled bank robbery get-away with the occasional strange sound in the background that one can easily recognize from Patton’s Tomahawk or Fantomas projects.
Guano Padano really out-did themselves with Americana and truly created something that their fans will listen to for years to come. Americana is a beautiful sequel to their 2012 release and is a true must-listen for anyone who enjoyed Tomahawk’s Anonymous album or even the adventurous fans of traditional western and Americana music. This trip is a journey that must be embarked upon. Seventeenth song, “The Fat of the Land,” is a true ending for the wild ride the album takes the listener on, and includes the Steinbeck quote from Of Mice and Men on Guano Padano’s website:
“’Well,’ said George, ‘we’ll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we’ll just say the hell with goin’ to work, and we’ll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an’ listen to the rain comin’ down on the roof – Nuts!’”
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