From working w/ alternative metal/rock outfit Faith No More and creating alongside Dan The Automator as Crudo to deconstructing pop music with Peeping Tom, Mike Patton's career has explored diverse sounds and aesthetics. For Mondo Cane, originally released in 2010, Patton takes another unexpected leap, as the album features beautiful, lush pop music backed by a 40-member orchestra. The project is executed entirely in ITALIAN, and fittingly so as the tunes are covers of classic '50s and '60s pop music from the country. It's delightfully strange and executed well, and Mondo Cane contains epic peaks and more melancholic, atmospheric moments which all combine for an eclectic listening experience. Check the opener "Il Cielo In Una Stanza," "Ore D'Amore," "Deep Down (Ennio Morricone)," "Che Notte!," and "20 KM Al Giorno."

• music label: Ipecac Recordings 2010 / 2016

reviewed by enbee 02/2017