I hate clowns; they give me the creeps, I always think that they are up to no good, and so Greg Amici’s Pulcinella-like costume makes for a memorable image. But what better cover to adopt whilst you explore, point and laugh at, hold a mirror to, and generally satirize today’s society, like a modern-day sonic Commedia dell’arte, the sonic wisdom of a perfect fool?
But, his sartorial looks aside, there is nothing dated about the music he makes, and Tragicomic sees him reunite with producer James Mastro and engineer/drummer Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Studio in Montclair to produce an album that takes a sideways look at the world he finds himself in.
As “Pumpkin Man” kicks things off, we find ourselves in a world of upbeat, slightly post-punk-pop-tinged music, but still ultimately totally in step with the here and now. “Cynthia, Come to Me” is a spacious, ska-grooved slice of indie-rock. Songs like “Girl Next Door” and “Junky Eyes” demonstrate that Amici is sonically smart even when working with the bare minimum of sounds. The latter is particularly sonically surreal and seductive, evoking a sense of bewilderment or being caught up in a lucid dream.
In contrast, “No Fool” is shot through with some real rock sounds, as is “Greenwood,” which takes the drive of early R.E.M. and the infectious quirk of X.T.C. but sounds 100% like Greg Amici.
What a great album, one that has plenty to say but never feels as if you’re being preached to. It offers personal takes on modern life, only flipped over and looked at from new perspectives.
Modern life’s weird, and here’s the soundtrack.
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