Staff Picks BlogI had never heard Vinicio Caposella’s music before listening to Ovunque Proteggi. (According to Yahoo Babelfish, the title translates as "Anywhere You Protect".) Caposella is known to be very experimental in his approach to music and Allmusic describes him as an Italian Tom Waits. It’s interesting that Waits’ sideman Marc Ribot plays guitar on this album. Unfortunately, the lyrics are only provided in Italian, but the instrumentation and Caposella’s voice are so expressive that the emotion of the music definitely come across. There is a progression of mood and intensity ranging from harsh and menacing to soothing and even spiritual.
The first track, Non Trattare, has a a pulsing Mid-Eastern feel. It’s followed by the harsh, driving Brucia Troia. The following tracks include a march, a cha cha, a waltz (Nel Blu), and a solemn piece that starts with solo cello and builds with a choir accompaniment (S. S. Dei Naufragati). The last track is the title song, a lovely rumba. Some tracks are unsettling, some are amusing, and others are just plain beautiful.
