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Via Zammata’
Dweezil Zappa
(Fantom Records)
Three stars
Dweezil Zappa’s new album is top-heavy with the influence of his late, great father, Frank, and bottom-loaded with harmony-drenched pop songs.
Dweezil has been performing his dad's music for years, but on Via Zammata' – the Sicilian street his family emigrated from – the paternal effect only goes so far.
The elder Zappa would have smiled at the distorted arrangements provided for his clichéd heavy metal-lyrics on Dragon Master, the only song co-written by father and son.
On Malkovich, Dweezil sets up actor John Malkovich by letting him read a classic philosophical text, before asking him what the heck he's talking about. Both say yes to Frank's question of: "Does humour belong in music?"
Rat Race comes with a rockabilly beat and an organ sound close to Del Shannon's Runaway, while opening instrumental Funky 15 reflects Frank's progressive rock tendencies.
The rest of the 12 tracks range from Posies-like power pop to lounge music and the Tijuana Brass.
On Jaws of Life, Dweezil says: "You were probably smarter when you were a kid."
Via Zammata' proves that at 46, he has aged wisely.
artslife@thenational.ae