Mellow Mood ADD

Review

Album Review: Mellow Mood - 7

04/10/2025

by Gardy Stein

The thinker, the seeker, the searcher of truth: these are among the traits numerology ascribes to the number 7. It is thus a fitting title for the new album of Italian band Mellow Mood (their seventh, of course), as they obviously went on a deep quest for new musical verities. And oh, what riches they found!

While the usual setup of Giulio Frausin on bass, Matteo Da Ros on guitar, Antonio Cicci on drums, Flavio Passon on piano & organ as well as the twins Jacopo and Lorenzo Garzia on vocals (not to forget Paolo Baldini on the mix) assure an overall continuity in sound, the group dove deeper into classical Jamaican waters this time around, sounding more vintage than ever.

Right from the start this approach captures our attention - just you press play on Propaganda! A whole array of percussions, an old-school piano, high-pitched organ and bubbling bass accompany the twins on their exploration of the greed and corruption taking hold of world leaders and how they try to hide it by telling lies: “Propaganda spreading all over Europe, America, madness a run the place!”

Giving us a taste of what those studio sessions must have been like, the beautiful Small Room takes us to a place where love and faith flow, and it’s not hard to imagine everyone involved playing or singing in utter rapture, eyes closed, bodies swaying to the beat… Additional musicians such as Enzo Barozzi and Andrea Cubeddu (trombone),  Roberto Dazzan, Andrea Polo and Giovanni Frabotta (trumpet), Marta Cecconi (flute) and Giuseppe Bussu (sax) align well with this shift to a more analogue sound, lending body to tracks like the steppas-driven We’ll Be Home or Warmonger. The latter, even more on the up-tempo side, speaks up boldly against war and weapons: “Mr. Big Man, Miss Big Woman, make it end, time fi pull out the paper and the pen.” Indeed!

Next to Jamaican influences, we also hear a sonic nod to Latin culture now and then. Thus, while Candela is overall quite roots, the call-and-answer in the chorus carries a certain “Buena Vista flavor”, and the Spanish title adds even more spice to that. Both Isabela and Rub A Dub Suavecito take the play with languages to another level as the twins switch effortlessly between English, Spanish and Patois, bearing proof of the twins’ profound linguistic knowledge. Chapeau!

What else? Oh, the features! As in their former releases, Mellow Mood invited impressive voices to join them on this ride, and look who answered the call: Romain Virgo sends his smooth vocals to the equally smooth Pull Up, and Anthony B as well as France’s Dub Inc rock Home Or Abroad. “Shallow music man ah bun down dat, small man babble, big man act!” Boom!

Last but not least, my favorite Hawaiian singer gives Heavy Load that unparalleled Mike Love touch, and major chords and perfectly placed harmonies make this one a jubilant gospel, almost – a joy to listen, again and again!

With Changes, the album closes on a relaxing note, giving Jacopo and Lorenzo ample room to embrace us with the fulness of their vocal versatility, from highs to lows, from softs to louds, intertwining and complementing each other… just wow.

7 is the result of much lyrical thinking, musical seeking, and truth searching for sure, and the eleven novel tracks thus presented to the world constitute a wonderful new chapter in Mellow Mood’s creative evolution. Happy 20^th anniversary, guys!!!

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