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The Italians are coming!

Get ready, because a new wave of concerts are coming to London all the way from Italy, as part of the project ‘The Italian Attack'. By Shelley Marsden - 05/11/08

And no, we don’t mean of the Zuccero /Eros Ramazotti variety – we mean decent Italian music, the kind that lovers of all things Italian should get a real kick out of. Last month, Southern Italian heroes Sud Sound System were getting the London crowds going, but this time it was the turn of legendary singer-songwriter Franco Battiato.

Battiato’s the real deal – it might be a bit much to call him the Bob Dylan of Italian music, but he’s close enough. I’m already excited to be seeing one of Italy’s true maestros, but the fact that he’s playing Koko is pretty neat, too. Its red curtains, balconies and dark charm make me feel I’ve walked into a David Lynch film – atmosphere on a plate. I miss any support he had (I am fashionably late, as are the two zillion Italians queuing with me), but that’s ok too.

The philosophical Sicilian treats us to some of his earlier pop classics, a few real favourites, such as the gorgeous La Cura (I got my hanky out, I did) and L’Animale. It helps, but you don’t have to understand Italian to get something out of a gig like this, either. You can let yourself be carried away by the musicality of the language, safe in the knowledge that you are in the presence of an Italian demi-god.

Besides, the dreamy, experimental singer has been collaborating with nihilistic-cynical philosopher Manlio Sgalambro since 1994, so his already apparently nonsensical lyrics can have become stranger and his arrangements more abstract – ie. you are not alone if you don’t have a clue what he’s on about!

You can , however, enjoy a) enjoy discovering a quality Italian band/singer that may not necessarily have crossed your radar otherwise and b) lap up the atmosphere – a corner of London is literally transformed into Little Italy for the night. Plus, Italians don’t really drink much, so you’ll never have to queue at the bar… Grande, Franco!

Keep checking the Irish World for news on upcoming concerts...