STORMY SIX - MACCHINA MACCHERONICA - 1980

If you form opinions of bands based only on the opening track of one album, you would be forgiven for assuming Stormy Six were a reed and brass cigányzene assemble, as there are many more elements to their music, touching on theatrical chamber music, romantic balladry, demented surf-rock and the exuberant ridiculousness of the barbershop quartet. Macchina Maccheronica even has time for a little heaviness. Note that this is not a mix-and-match album composed by a "hey, we're avant-garde!" style band - this is a cohesive and eclectic work featuring the necessary transitions between moods.

This folky, jazzy album is divided into several parts by short skit-like pieces all called "Madonina", which although enjoyable mostly just serve to place more focus on the longer compositions. There's nothing of "epic" length but then there's no reason for that term to apply to this sort of music. If you've enjoyed music by Alamailmaan Vasarat or Samla Mammas Manna then there's no reason why you shouldn't look into picking up "Macchina Maccheronica."
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