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Can't say I know too much about the Italian music scene, but recent releases from the Suiteside label have given me reason to believe that not all Italians are wine swilling, pasta munching porkies with a penchant for operatic indulgence. Altro's debut long player (although long it certainly isn't, its nine tracks lasting fractionally over 20 minutes) reaffirms that impression somewhat more, with the three-piece's lo-fi take on post-hardcore echoing any number of bands that call K or Dischord their home. I don't speak a word of Italian, so I really haven't a clue what Alessandro Baronciani may be on about, but I do know a decent enough record when I hear one. 'Candore' doesn't set new standards for originality, but it doesn't exactly plumb the depths of the recycling bin either. Be warned though; when I say 'lo-fi', read 'probably recorded on a boom box on the other side of a corrugated iron-roofed hanger in torrential rain and played with instruments readily available from Argos'.

Mike Diver
March-April 2003

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