<p><span><span>- The second album from Melbourne’s Primo! arrives bearing a contrasting collage of paintings and portraits. It shows a more complex and obfuscated arrangement than the simple but elegant band photo that adorns their 2018 debut <em>Amici</em>, revealing something of the explosion of ideas that has taken place between them<em>.</em></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Sogni </em>brings with it the addition of bassist <strong>Amy Hill </strong>to the record<strong>,</strong> who alongside Primo guitarist <strong>Xanthe Waite </strong>forms half of the band <strong>Terry</strong>. While sharing many musical and stylistic similarities between them -both deriving some inspiration from various strains of DIY, jangly post-punk- Primo has maintained a distinct sound and set of aesthetic concerns that are taken further into new territory with <em>Sogni</em>.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Drawing on the meaning of the title<em>,</em> which translates to <em>dreams </em>from the Italian, there’s a push towards a far more exploratory sound from their debut. From opening track <em>Things To Do</em>’s guitar drones and wobbly vocal refrain, through to closer <em>Reverie’s</em> atmospheric saxophone and synthesizers there’s an aspirational and idealistic tone set, with the smattering of unexpected pulses, drones, and bleeps throughout.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>At times it’s distinctly reminiscent of some German <em>kosmiche musik</em>, with the riveting xylophone and saxophone conclusion of <em>Rolling Stone</em>. I’m reminded more specifically of <strong>Kraftwerk </strong>within their controlled, unitary vocal expressions and divergent melodic hooks, like the underlying keyboard line of the melancholic <em>Comedy Show</em> and in lyrics that tend towards skepticism about the impositions of modern life and bureaucracy like those on <em>Machine</em>. The film clip for <em>Machine</em> adds a lot to this impression, showing the band acting as mechanics dressed in matching boiler suits as they work and sing in a workshop full of stylish retro cars between breaks of playing Primo branded <em>Uno</em> cards. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Primo’s nostalgic and visually informed preoccupation with Italian language and everyday working-class life brings to mind the legacy of Italian neorealist film, with their shared sense of realism and wonderment in confronting the ever mounting moralistic challenges of everyday life. Primo takes a non-linear approach to rock music that overwhelmingly values collaboration and experimentation, while remaining grounded in engaging, fun and emotionally sincere songwriting. Few bands are so effortlessly warm and earnest. It’s a characteristic that is certainly owing to the closeness and collective ethic of the people involved, being created wholly in home studios with familiar associates. <em>Sogni </em>sounds refreshing, considered and not at all overstated.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>- Jaden Gallagher.</span></span></p>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=965643960/size=large/bgcol=ff…; seamless><a href="http://primocassetto.bandcamp.com/album/sogni-2">Sogni by Primo!</a></iframe><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YASpmQjsImc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>