Mike Patton Goes Pop, Italian Style

Long-in-the-gestation stages Mondo Cane will arrive on May 4. Something about Faith No More is happening too...

By Blurt Staff

Nearly two years ago we interviewed Mike Patton, and in the story he disclosed that he had a new project he was working on, Mondo Cane.

"It's a big, complicated project," said Patton. citing a 10-piece band plus a full symphony orchestra and choir. The project was inspired by Italian pop crooners from the '50s and '60s who enlisted top arrangers and composers for backing. "It's my version of that music, so it's a little bit twisted and I definitely rearranged some things. But it's me in that environment."

Incoming, then, finally, is Mike Patton's Mondo Cane, the Faith No More/Peeping Tom/Tomahawk/Mr. Bungle/Fantomas mainman's Italian language rock-meets-orchestra hybrid. It's due May 4 via Patton's Ipecac Recordings label.

Recorded at a series of European performances including an outdoor concert in a Northern Italian piazza, the album features traditional Italian pop songs as well as a rendition of Ennio Morricone's "Deep Down."   Patton worked with a 30-piece orchestra and choir on the album.

Meanwhile, of course, there's that none-too-minor detail about the Faith No More reunion this year. The Australian/New Zealand leg finished up last month, and a string of US April dates are already sold out. Dates and details here.

Tracklisting:

1. Il Cielo In Una Stanza

2. Che Notte!

3. Ore D'Amore

4. Deep Down

5. Quello Che Conta

6. Urlo Negro

7. Scalinatella

8. L'Uomo Che Non Sapeva Amare

9. 20 KM Al Giorno

10.   Ti Offro Da Bere

11.   Senza Fine