Da “Misty Lane Magazine”
Wow, another monster album by Italys fave Hammond-driven groovers, the Link Quartet! One of those records you actually have trouble reviewing, because you can’t stop dancing while you’re trying to write! From the opening cover of Move, Move, Move and the title track Italian Playboys it’s a deep flashback to the best soundtrack funky beat you’ve first loved in the late 60’s and 70’s obscure flicks, radio spots, commercials. Those full of gorgeous girls, nice looking hangouts, cool drinks, fast cars running, pigs (ooops, cops), and a good dose of drugs in as well. It’s an all-instro mania all the way…driven by the fine Hammond solos of Paolo Apollo Negri and the hot skills by Tony Face Bacciocchi one of Italy’s long time Mods who has been playing nothing but cool music in the past 20 years. Some chill-out piano and moog moods? Yeah, hear Milwaukee Hunter, you got it. Ask for some groovy distorted guitar at times, then Rubber Monkey it’s for ya. Greased On Delta Street is more the kind of average cool stuff these guys have been digging for so long, although it’s easy to hear some harder approach to certain themes, and the wha-wha solos are always interesting, never boring. All instro we said well, until to get to Janine, a nice French tune sung by Arnaldo Dodici featuring a fine Moog job. Also interesting the ultra-reverberated voice of Ninfa on LadyShave, definitely a sexy-psych adventure. Now, would you have expected these guys covering the Fab 4 Glass Onion, well maybe? Here it is! And it features a splendid electric piano job too. Briar Patch: more sleazy B-Movies soundtrack coolness I hear you say. After and Once Again sounds like the guys have been thinking about rewriting the soundtrack for Vampiros Lesbos. Closing the album you get another personal fave cut Spider Baby a sitar-driven popsike gem. Well these guys have surely been listening to the right music for years and now that’s the obvious result. Take Four definitely close the album with a fine mix of jazz club atmosphere, Moog and Hammond intricate solos for a classy Psychedelic trip. Too Much. What’s next guys? A complete soundtrack for a real movie maybe? We’ll see, but in the meantime be sure to get this excellent release and support the band. They’re often on tour (also in USA) so don’t miss the Link Quartet. Cool, gifted and Italian all the way.
Massimo del Pozzo
