Tredici Bacci. Where do we begin? What once seemed like a very entertaining and well-executed gimmick now seems like it could be the forefront of the Italian Lounge Revival movement. Which, to my knowledge, is not yet a thing, but Tredici Bacci’s fresh, energetic approach to a genre that was accumulating some dust makes you wonder if maybe it should be.
In case you aren’t familiar, Tredici Bacci is the brainchild of ex-Guerilla Toss member Simon Hanes, who serves as the composer/conductor and electric guitarist for this nearly 20-person orchestra. Vai! Vai! Vai! is the sultry, Ennio Morricone-style soundtrack to a fictional 1974 Italian film. It runs the gamut from uptempo (“Papa Schizzare”) to straight sexy (“Coda”) without missing a beat. Importantly, Vai! Vai! Vai! fully embraces the campiness of the time and place it alludes to without mocking it—possible only because of how talented the musicians, and composer, behind Tredici Bacci are. This skill is proven beyond doubt by Tredici’s spot-on cover of Morricone’s own “Metti Una Sera A Cena.”
Vai! Vai! Vai! is streaming below via Bandcamp and will be available on cassette February 25 from Austin’s Astral Spirits label. It’s paired with the (more avant) ENPSE: Concetti EP on the cassette release.
Bonus material: Boston Hassle’s Keeley recently interviewed Simon Hanes about all things Tredici Bacci, Luxardo, G-Toss, and beyond. Read it here.
