Album Review: 'Calibro 35 (Deluxe Edition)' by Calibro 35
There is a type of music that submerges you in an unknown but exciting place. “Calibro 35 Deluxe Edition” does exactly that. You got the feeling that you might be more sophisticated than you think, and for some reason, you find yourself with a “badass” attitude.
This ‘Cinematic Funk’ (as they label themselves) band debuted with a covers album where they tribute songs of 1970s Italian movie soundtracks. Mainly songs by genre's geniuses such as Ennio Morricone, Armando Trovajoli and Luis Bacalov, also a couple more of their own composition.
Getting into the ‘Cinematic Music’ background of Calibro 35:
Have in mind soundtracks of Italian mystery and crime movies from the ’70s or western classics like The good the bad and the ugly (Ennio Morricone), perhaps even more updated reference, think of Django unchained movie theme or Kill Bill I, Il Grande Duelo and Summer Killer (Luis Bacalov).
Back to Calibro 35 Deluxe Edition:
I really don’t know how to describe sometimes Calibro 35 music, and I just love that.
After seven albums, a pretty impressive journey of tours and performances in some of the most important music and cinema festivals in the World. The cine-funky-delic band has reissued their homonymous debut album, giving us 21 tracks to play them out loud.
Now, this record is part of a trilogy that Milan label has realized in September 2020 in wax and digital — limited edition — out of demand. They reprinted the first three albums of the Italian band, that’s loved right there.
The album introduces itself with ‘Tutta Dona’ (All Woman) an original song in the intense voice of the Italian singer Gi Kalweit. I like to think about this piece as a “seduction bold anthem”, perfect to be sung at some underground glamorous bar.
After that, is a straight jump into the ’70s Italian film themes with ‘Italia A Mano Armata’ and ‘Summertime Killer’, followed by another original creation, ‘Notte In Bovisa” 80% funk, 20% hard rock, and ‘Bouchet Funk’.
Tributing some Ennio Moriccone covers, ‘Indagine Su Un Cittadino Al Di Sopra Di Ogni Sospetto’ a playful crime scene audible interpretation and some raspy jazz with ‘Trafelato’.
More of Morricone, ‘Una Stanza Vuota” instrumental covered, and later on, compositions of Stelvio Cipriani ‘La Polizia S’incazza’ and ‘La Polizia Sta A Guardare’ adding some drama to the mix. Calibro 35 assertively replaced some horns from the original ones with distorted guitar solos…nice! Also both are my highlights from the album.
One song that changes tone with some adventurous easy-breezy tunes is ‘Shake Balera’, a casual heroine ’60s song theme, extracted from ‘La Ragazza Con La Pistola’ Italian movie.
Short but substantial, ‘E Nessuno Si Fara’ Del Male’ comes at the end as a denouement of this magnificent compilation of cinematic masterpieces. My favorite of the entire album, I wish it would’ve lasted more, 1:33 minutes of psychedelic, progressive, rockabilly tunes? I really don’t know how to describe sometimes Calibro 35 music, and I just love that.
