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L'ombrello e la macchina da cucire

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L'ombrello e la macchina da cucire
Studio album by
Released1995
Length41:42
LabelEMI Italiana
Franco Battiato chronology
Caffè de la Paix
(1993)
L'ombrello e la macchina da cucire
(1995)
L'imboscata
(1996)

L'ombrello e la macchina da cucire (lit.'The umbrella and the sewing machine') is the eighteenth studio album by Italian singer-songwriter Franco Battiato, released in 1995.

Background

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Following their collaboration in the 1994 opera Il cavaliere dell’intelletto ('The Knight of Intellect'), Battiato asked philosopher Manlio Sgalambro to write the lyrics for his next album; their professional partnership eventually lasted until Sgalambro's death in 2014.[1][2][3]

Production

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The album initially had the working title Golpe.[2] It was recorded between Battiato's house in Milo (credited as "L'Ottava") and Fonoprint Studio in Bologna.[1][2] Among the musicians who collaborated to the album, were former Denovo's members Mario Venuti, Luca Madonia and Toni Carbone and Japanese soprano Hiroko Saito.[1] The album and the lead single titles are based on a verse of the Isidore Ducasse's poem Les Chants de Maldoror.[1][2]

Release and reception

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The album was released on 24 March 1995. The cryptic lyrics of Sgalambro, akin to a stream of consciousness and rich in erudite references, disoriented Battiato's long-standing fans, and the album sold over 100,000 copies, being Battiato's lowest selling album since Patriots.[2]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."L'ombrello e la macchina da cucire"Franco Battiato, Manlio Sgalambro4:20
2."Breve invito a rinviare il suicidio"Battiato, Sgalambro4:19
3."Piccolo pub"Battiato, Sgalambro4:03
4."Fornicazione"Battiato, Sgalambro4:19
5."Gesualdo da Venosa"Battiato, Sgalambro4:08
6."Moto browniano"Battiato, Sgalambro4:43
7."Tao"Battiato, Sgalambro4:01
8."Un vecchio cameriere"Battiato, Sgalambro4:11
9."L'esistenza di Dio"Battiato, Sgalambro7:38

Charts

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Chart (1995) Peak
position
Italy (Musica e dischi)[4] 12

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Zuffanti, Fabio (30 June 2020). "L'ombrello e la macchina da cucire". Franco Battiato: Tutti i dischi e tutte le canzoni, dal 1965 al 2019 (in Italian). LIT Edizioni. ISBN 978-88-6231-868-6.
  2. ^ a b c d e La Posta, Annino (2010). "1994-1995:Sgalambro e il ritorno sulla terra". Franco Battiato: soprattutto il silenzio. Giunti. ISBN 978-88-09-74253-6.
  3. ^ Spessato, Carla (20 October 2021). "Quieto come un insetto che si prende il sole". Franco Battiato: Come un incantesimo. Giunti. ISBN 978-88-09-95527-1.
  4. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2023. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "L'ombrello e la macchina da cucire".
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