REVIEW - DIRTY ARTICHOKES "Losco pruzio" (2015)

Dirty Artichokes "Losco Pruzio" self-released
Release date: September 19, 2015
Running time:32:37, 10 tracks

Dirty Artichokes released some new songs on YouTube last year. The Italian band decided not to release a new CD then, but to re-record those numbers and record some new tracks. “Losco Pruzio”, their second album has been finally issued in September 2015. The band has become bigger, as two new Bunino cousins joined the band in November 2014. Thus, the new Bunino family line-up is Lo Scienzo (trumpet), Barnabeo (trumpet), Budo (lead vocals, tin whistle), Brighela (flute), Dade (acoustic guitar) and Tio (drums) together with Martana (fiddle), Giglia (bass), Andrei (electric guitar) and Torn (banjo). Andrea Bovo recorded the new album "in a semi direct way in their natural habitat, in their secret cellars". Besides, Dirty Artichokes decided not to print booklets and pictures on the CDs, but to draw every artwork on their own. Therefore, every CD copy would be unique.

Regarding the band’s evolution, Dirty Artichokes are tighter than in their debut album. Sometimes they sound chaotic, but it’s a charming chaos, not a mess, a sort of a Talco meets Days n'Daze attitude. The songs structures defy your imagination, but the real term for that is creativity.

“Losco Pruzio” first song is titled “Roots” and there are different genres on this amazing track, including ska and hip hop.

“Railway Man” has a folkier feel, but the treatment is really wild. Trumpets are an interesting addition and the two angry vocals go hardcore at times. Sometimes the beat is slower, sometimes it’s faster … Different, but attractive.

More growling vocals can be heard on the next number “Eyes Cubes”, together with trumpets, banjo picking, fiddling and flutes.

Track number 4 is a sort of a “suite”. The different parts of “Chinese Scarfan” are clearly marked. First of all, mad shouts and trumpets with a TV series from the 70’s twist. Then, a second part featuring banjo and acoustic guitar that are joined by the fiddle. The whole band speeds up and the third part begins. The beat goes slower with bass, banjo and drums. Electric guitar and trumpet join later. Finally there is a guitars part before fiddle, flute and drums arrive at a faster pace.

The next number is called “Bella Italy” and it’s one of the songs that were presented last year on YouTube. This kick-ass song has a fiddle and banjo beginning à la Tofu Love Frogs.

“Freedom Lives on Mountains” is a personal fave together with “Chinese Scarfan” and the next track “Tornstrum”. It starts a cappella, like a British folk number, but then Dirty Artichokes move to another territory, maybe the Appalachians, with banjo, fiddle and flute.

“Tornstrum” is a fantastic instrumental, with banjo and tin whistle that remind me of The Dubliners. I guess that Dirty Artichokes drank some grappa while recording this infectious number.

The following track is “Speaking Skulls” another song that could be heard on YouTube last year. This song runs like an Italian cyclist race. The beginning is calm, but once the end is close, the sprinters go at full speed. Great fiddling, by the way.

Dirty Artichokes go to Tirol on “Yodlecore”, where they take care of the cows.

Finally, “La Panza delle seghe” is an Italian song that gets a pirate treatment. Dirty Artichokes cover a song by an Italian DJ, Gabry Ponte.

As it has previously been said, “Losco Pruzio” has been recorded, mixed and mastered by Andrea Bovo. The artwork is a labour of love and there are different lyrics sheets in different languages. For instance, mine is in Bulgarian, only 3 songs, but other versions have 3 or 4 songs in Indonesian, Neapali, Vietnamese or Arabic. For those who are wondering about the album title, “Losco Pruzio” is the dog’s name. It has no meaning, but it sounds funny as far as I have been said.

Even if “Losco Pruzio” is a no frills album, it’s a nice addition to any folk-punk collection. New amazing Celtic punk bands have come from Italy in the last years, but Dirty Artichokes have not got nervous and they have followed their own path. Maybe they have lost some Celtic influences on their way, but their new folk-punk attitude makes them very interesting.

 Tracklist:

01. Roots 03:38   
02. Railway Man 02:49   
03. Eyes Cubes 02:43   
04. Chinese Scarfan 04:47   
05. Bella Italy 02:40   
06. Freedom Lives On Mountains 03:53
07. Torn Strum 02:39   
08. Speaking Skulls 04:32   
09. Yodelcore 01:32
10. La panza delle seghe (Gabry Ponte cover) 3:01


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Review by Kinksmarkham