Paolo Spaccamonti - Buone Notizie

Buono Notizie is the second album from Turin-based multi-instrumentalist Paolo Spaccomonti, an artist who has had little exposure outside of his native Italy and certainly not in the UK. It is a delight therefore to hear these 12 instrumentals of soothing guitar, with a whole host of backing instrumentation.

Opener 'Buono Notizie' is a beautifully understated track. Dominated by mournful, repetitive strumming Paolo adds e-bow drenched guitar soundscapes part way through the song. Perhaps treading on similar ground to The Workhouse, Early Day Miners or fellow Italians Port Royal, it is a wonderful introduction to Paolo's work.

Though repetition is a key factor throughout the album, there is plenty of variety between songs. The wondrously titled 'Guitar Heroin' is exactly that, an addictive hook-laden, hypnotically driven guitar and drum song that recalls Krautrock or early Stereolab. 'Tartarughe' and 'Niente Per Bocca' add drum machines to the backing, the latter being a particular delight, a more uptempo number, with swathes of warm electronics aiding the guitar, in the mould of Chessie or early Seefeel. 'Deh' is a simpler song, again featuring a slow-paced and delicate guitar strum, but with washes of electronic viola that gives the listener a beautifully warm and fuzzy feel.

It's also nice to hear a double-bass being used as a driving force behind a song, such as on the dark and sombre 'Claude' and the trumpet and organ-infused 'Specchi', the latter invoking elements of former Thrill Jockey group Town and Country in the hypnotising bass.

The only niggling doubt of the album is that some of the tracks occasionally feel too restrained, giving the impression that they were leading somewhere only to prematurely fizzle out. An exception to this is album highlight 'Amici Vecchi'. Adding cello and an increased use of percussion to a gentle beginning, the song builds into a frenetic climax, with the cello left to fade the track out to a gracious finish.

With Buono Notizie, Paolo Spaccamonti has produced a confident and mature album that appropriates moods both dark and light and proves that instrumental music does not have to be bombastic to grab the attention of the listener.