Short Reviews [Claudio Milano's End Friends (La Bobina di Tesla) - 2023 - ManifestAzioni]

When I first came across Claudio Milano and his Nichelodeon project I was truly taken aback by what I was hearing, as I had not previously heard such a singular approach to music. It was more about musical theatre than it was pure music, with Claudio mixing together multiple forms to create his own genre, truly progressive. I said that was music for people who appreciated the likes of Art Zoyd and Can and was only for those who truly felt they could open their minds to something which was very different indeed. That release encompassed four different bands, all with Claudio at their heart, and while this is credited to Claudio, it has been taken from multiple performances over more than a decade and involves different musicians here and there, but for me this is always about the voice. When I was speaking to Claudio about his approach he said, “mine is no longer pop music, not even rock...it has become something that brings together the performing arts and, while rigorously researching the geometric organisation that characterises it, tells of the incredible multitude of stimuli we receive in reality, but also an altered perception of things that might belong to those who have chosen self-analysis as the only way to evolve as an individual…It is modern classical linked to performative action that interests me now, but I don't reject melodies, following crazy harmonisations”. While this is challenging, in multiple ways, it is also incredibly enthralling as one never knows what is going to come next, and where Claudio is going to take us with his amazing vocals. He can switch into falsetto incredibly easily, and holding long notes is never an issue, yet many times it feels as if we are listening to some strange and warped modern opera where Claudio is taking on all the roles. For the most part I have no idea what he is singing about as much is in Italian, but that does not matter as there is an almost hypnotic quality which keeps the listener entranced. Often there is little in the way of accompaniment, but what there is directs us to his voice. There is more than two hours of music here, a double CD containing 21 songs, and Claudio somehow manages to create his own world, one where we are captured and somewhat hypnotised by what is taking place in front of our ears. Even for those with open minds there is a lot here to take in, but do not worry if it all feels rather strange the first time it is played as a) it is, and b) the more it is listened to the more one is compelled to play it again. That this is a masterpiece is never in doubt, nor is the fact that most people will find this just too far out there and something they are unable to comprehend. Without knowing Italian I know I am missing out on a major part of this, but even as it is I know I have been greatly enriched by having heard it. Not for the fainthearted, but the musically adventurous will find much here to discover.