Scotty Pone — Fiumicino

Let's cut straight to the chase : Scotty Pone is Gerhard Steiner’s double. A 35 year-old multi-instrumentalist who lives in Hanover. This is not a revelation as such but it does give an idea of his approach to music. With neither pretence nor misappropriation, he portrays himself exactly as the image he chose for the cover of his album, a tight shot of his face. Gerhard Steiner plainly states his desire to be anywhere else other than in his home city, to be anyone else rather than himself. Thus the invention of Scotty Pone, a charming Guzzi motorcycle rider spinning through the Italian countryside a portrait (taken from a postcard). A late afternoon spree transfers us to the sunlight-infused setting of the Amalfi Coast. The simplicity of voice and piano are sufficient to take us on this charming Italian jaunt ("Vesuvio", "Sono Solo"). The use of acoustic guitar, played like a mandolin, conveys the inexorable decline of passion ("Per Favore"), then there is the erotic voice of the mysterious "Anita" (Anita Long on vocals) interpreting the bitter-soft end of a romance. But Scotty Pone is not to be pitied. With his deep voice, serious yet warm – like Johnny Cash but without the darkness – he tackles the torments of love with pluck and all this in Italian no less, per favore!, the only English language tracks being "A Room With A View", "Long Walks In The Dark" and "Favourite Beaches". It must nevertheless be said that Scotty has a very thick German accent. But somehow his native inflections give the album an authentic poignancy. Gerhard Steiner does not seek to overembellish. He sings with his voice (beautiful) and his accent (German). In other words, he sings with his true self and his version of Italy goes straight to the heart.