Mike Patton - Pranzo Oltranzista (1997)

Mike Patton's second solo album, Pranzo Oltranzista: Musica da Ravola per Cinque (Banquet Piece for Five Players), has some qualities similar to its predecessor (Adult Themes for Voice), except the major difference this time is that there are instruments present. Also, it marks Patton's debut as experimental composer, taking his inspiration for the album's music from Filippo Tommaso Marinetti's Futurist Cookbook (from back in 1932). The five players who perform on this piece are well known in the John Zorn musical circle -- cellist Erik Friedlander, guitarist Marc Ribot, percussionist William Winant, and Zorn himself on alto saxophone. "Elettricita Atmospheriche Candite" kicks the album off with a mixture of violin squeaks and noises and spacy echo guitar -- when combined, they create a sound collage that would be the perfect soundtrack for a graveyard at night or a spooky haunted house. Another track, "Aerovivanda," contains free-form horn blowing and the sound of glass shattering, which builds up quite a bit of musical tension. Chalk up Pranzo Oltranzista as another challenging release from Patton. © Greg Prato