Released in 1982, Azimut is the fifth studio album by the celebrated Italian singer-songwriter Alice (born Carla Bissi). Following the massive success of her 1981 album Alice (also known as Per Elisa), Azimut represents a pivotal moment in her career where she began to balance accessible pop sensibilities with deeper musical experimentation. Musical Style and Direction
The album is a sophisticated blend of pop, rock, and new wave. While it retains the infectious "Italo pop" energy characteristic of early 80s Italian music, it also ventures into art pop and progressive pop. Critics have noted that Azimut strikes a unique balance—it is not "too soft" for rock fans, nor "too goofy" for new wave enthusiasts, maintaining a passionate and vivid atmosphere throughout. Collaborative Excellence
Much of the album's distinct sound can be attributed to Alice’s collaboration with visionary Italian musician Franco Battiato. Production: The album was produced by Angelo Carrara.
Songwriting: Battiato co-wrote the hit single "Messaggio" under the pseudonym "Albert Kui". He also duets with Alice on the new wave track "Chan-son Egocentrique".
Other Collaborators: Singer-songwriter Eugenio Finardi wrote the folk-pop closing track, "Laura degli specchi". The album also features prominent musicians like Matteo Fasolino (keyboards/synthesizers) and Alfredo Golino (drums). Tracklist Analysis
The album consists of nine tracks, totaling approximately 36 minutes: Style/Notes Azimut The title track, featuring art-pop influences. A cosa pensano A "groovy Italian pop anthem". Animali d'America Art-pop with experimental textures. Deciditi Leans toward Adult Oriented Rock (AOR). Messaggio A major personality-pop single co-written by Battiato. Principessa Another track with AOR leanings. La mano Explores deeper, atmospheric textures. Chan-son Egocentrique A standout New Wave duet with Franco Battiato. Laura degli specchi A violin-infused folk-pop and progressive piece. Legacy and Audio Quality
For audiophiles, Azimut is highly sought after in FLAC 16-bit/44.1kHz (CD quality) format to preserve the intricate synthesizer work and Alice's powerful vocal range. The album remains a favorite among fans for its consistent quality, often cited as one of the best "basic" pop albums that still manages to challenge the listener.
, released in 1982 by EMI Music, represents a pivotal moment in Italian singer-songwriter Alice - Azimut -1982 Pop- -Flac 16-44-
career. Following her 1981 victory at the Sanremo Music Festival, this fifth studio album showcases a transition toward a more accessible, cultured pop sound while retaining the sophisticated artistic matrix established in her earlier, more "neurotic" new-wave works. Sonic Profile & Production Produced by Angelo Carrara
, the album is characterized by its blend of synth-heavy arrangements and organic instrumentation, including prominent piano work by Alice herself and Matteo Fasolino. For audiophiles, a FLAC 16-bit/44.1kHz
version provides a faithful lossless digital representation of the original studio recording, capturing the era-defining synthesizers and the detailed engineering of the Stone Castle and Radius Studios. Genre Influence: A mix of New Wave, Progressive Pop, and Italian Canzone d'autore Key Collaborators: Frequent collaborator Franco Battiato
contributed to the standout tracks "Messaggio" (under the pseudonym Albert Kui) and the duet "Chan-son Egocentrique". Notable Tracks "Messaggio"
: A major hit single co-written by Battiato and Giusto Pio, continuing the melodic style of her previous success, "Per Elisa". "Chan-son Egocentrique"
: A high-energy duet with Battiato that remains one of the era's definitive Italian new-wave anthems.
: The title track, noted for its "remarkable and pleasant melody" anchored by synths and piano. "Laura degli specchi" Released in 1982, Azimut is the fifth studio
: A folk-pop closing track written by Eugenio Finardi, often praised for its violin-infused, baroque-pop finale. Critical Legacy Retrospective reviews on platforms like Rate Your Music
as a strong, passionate entry in Italian pop history. While some critics note the "dated" 80s synth sounds, others defend it as a "solid cultured musical matrix" that bridges the gap between commercial accessibility and avant-garde art-pop. of the FLAC file or more on the historical context of Alice's collaboration with Franco Battiato?
Released in 1982, Azimut is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Italian Art Pop and New Wave, marking a peak in the creative partnership between the singer Alice (Carla Bissi) and legendary composer Franco Battiato. Musical Direction and Production
The album serves as a more refined and experimental successor to her previous work, Caponord. It leans heavily into sophisticated synthesizer arrangements and atmospheric soundscapes characteristic of early 80s sophisti-pop and Italo pop.
Production: Produced by Angelo Carrara, the album features contributions from renowned musicians like Giusto Pio and Eugenio Finardi.
Style: The record blends catchy hooks with avant-garde touches, such as the use of saxophones in "Animali D'America" and violin in "Laura Degli Specchi". Key Tracks
"Messaggio": A major hit co-written by Battiato (under the pseudonym Albert Kui). It is a refined pop song that utilizes lush sound harmonies. Frequency response: Flat from 20 Hz to 20
"Chan-son Egocentrique": A playful and driving new-wave duet with Franco Battiato. It remains one of the most recognizable tracks of the era.
"Laura Degli Specchi": Written by Eugenio Finardi, this track is frequently cited by critics as the album's emotional masterpiece, noted for its suggestive vocal delivery and haunting cello and violin progression.
"Azimut": The title track is an art-pop piece featuring a powerful musical crescendo. Tracklist & Credits Alice Visconti A Cosa Pensano Alice, F. Messina Animali D'America Alice Visconti Alice Visconti Alice, Battiato (as Kui), G. Pio Principessa Alice Visconti Alice Visconti Chan-son Egocentrique Battiato, Messina, Tramonti Laura Degli Specchi Eugenio Finardi Source: Discogs. Audio Quality Note: FLAC 16-bit/44.1kHz
For audiophiles, the FLAC 16/44 (CD quality) version of this album is essential to capturing the intricate layers of Battiato's production and Alice’s wide vocal range. High-fidelity listeners often praise this format for preserving the "clean and harmonious" singing against the "dirty and scratchy" rock elements found in tracks like "Deciditi". Azimut by Alice (Album, New Wave) - Rate Your Music
In the vast ocean of 1980s pop music, certain albums transcend the typical synth-and-snare clichés to become genuine works of art. One such gem is Alice’s Azimut. For audiophiles and collectors, the string of search terms “Alice - Azimut -1982 Pop- -Flac 16-44-” represents a treasure map. It points not just to a file format, but to a pristine preservation of a pivotal moment in Italian progressive-pop.
Released in 1982, Azimut (Italian for "Azimuth," the horizontal angle or direction) was the fourth studio album by the Venetian singer-songwriter Carla Bissi, known mononymously as Alice. This article explores why this album remains a cult classic, why the FLAC 16-bit/44.1kHz format is the definitive way to experience it, and how the music holds up four decades later.
| Parameter | Value | |------------------------|-------------------------------| | Sample rate | 44.1 kHz | | Bit depth | 16 bit | | Codec | FLAC (Level 5–8 typical) | | Channels | 2 (stereo) | | Average bitrate | ~700–900 kbps (VBR) | | Dynamic range | Typically good (DR10–DR13) for this era | | Spectral analysis | Clean cut at 22.05 kHz (proper anti-aliasing) | | No DC offset / clipping | Expected properly mastered |