Gommalacca
Gommalacca is a studio album by Italian singer-songwriter Franco Battiato, issued in 1998.
Production
Battiato worked on Gommalacca for a year and a half. The album was recorded between Battiato's house in Catania, Stonehenge Studio in Peschiera Borromeo and two recording studios in Milan, Next and Nautilus. Musicians involved in this album include Gavin Harrison, Morgan and Marco Pancaldi from Bluvertigo, and Ru Catania from, with Fleur Jaeggy, Ginevra Di Marco and Andrea Pezzi providing backing vocals. Cover art was ideated by SergioPappalettera from Studio Prodesign.
Release and reception
Anticipated by the lead single "Shock in My Town", the album was released on 24 September 1998. It won the Targa Tenco as best album of the year.The album was described as "vigorous and inspired with hard and distorted sounds and bold samples set in lavish arrangements." Annino La Posta wrote: "Gommalacca is a bold and hard-edged album - at times swirling and restless - yet, as often occurs in Battiato's work, occasionally the sonic architecture recedes and allows glimpses of lyrical beauty to emerge."