Gommalacca

Battiato worked on Gommalacca for a year and a half.{{cite book |last1=La Posta |first1=Annino |title=Franco Battiato: soprattutto il silenzio |date=2010 |publisher=Giunti |isbn=978-88-09-74253-6 |chapter=1996-2000: Shock in My Town}} The album was recorded between Battiato's house in Catania, Stonehenge Studio in Peschiera Borromeo and two recording studios in Milan, Next and Nautilus. Musicians involved in this album include Gavin Harrison, Morgan and Marco Pancaldi from Bluvertigo, and Ru Catania from {{Interlanguage link|Africa Unite (band)|it|Africa Unite|lt=Africa Unite}}, with Fleur Jaeggy (credited as Carlotta Wieck), Ginevra Di Marco and Andrea Pezzi serving as chorus. Cover art was ideated by Sergio

Pappalettera from Studio Prodesign.

Anticipated by the lead single "Shock in My Town", the album was released on 24 September 1998.{{cite book |last1=Spessato |first1=Carla |title=Franco Battiato: Come un incantesimo |date=20 October 2021 |publisher=Giunti |isbn=978-88-09-95527-1 |chapter=Passa la gioventù, non te ne fare un vanto}} It won the Targa Tenco as best album of the year.

The album was described as "vigorous and inspired [...] with hard and distorted sounds and bold samples set in lavish arrangements."{{cite book|last=Enrico Deregibus|title=Dizionario completo della Canzone Italiana|date=8 October 2010|publisher=Giunti Editore|pages=48-9|isbn=978-8809756250}} Annino La Posta wrote: "Gommalacca is a bold and hard-edged album - at times swirling and restless - yet, as often occurs in Battiato's work, occasionally the sonic architecture recedes and allows glimpses of lyrical beauty to emerge."

{{Track listing

| title1 = Shock in My Town

| note1 =

| lyrics1 = Franco Battiato, Manlio Sgalambro

| music1 = Battiato

| length1 = 4:24

| title2 = Auto da fé

| note2 =

| lyrics2 = Battiato, Sgalambro

| music2 = Battiato

| length2 = 3:59

| title3 = Casta Diva

| note3 =

| lyrics3 = Battiato, Sgalambro

| music3 = Battiato

| length3 = 3:38

| title4 = Il ballo del potere

| note4 =

| lyrics4 = Battiato, Sgalambro

| music4 = Battiato

| length4 = 4:26

| title5 = La preda

| note5 =

| lyrics5 = Sgalambro

| music5 = Battiato

| length5 = 3:44

| title6 = Il mantello e la spiga

| note6 =

| lyrics6 = Sgalambro

| music6 = Battiato

| length6 = 3:59

| title7 = È stato molto bello

| note7 =

| lyrics7 = Sgalambro

| music7 = Battiato

| length7 = 3:49

| title8 = Quello che fu

| note8 =

| lyrics8 = Sgalambro

| music8 = Battiato

| length8 = 4:30

| title9 = Vite parallele

| note9 =

| lyrics9 = Sgalambro

| music9 = Battiato

| length9 = 3:24

| title10 = Shakleton

| note10 =

| lyrics10 = Sgalambro, Fleur Jaeggy

| music10 = Battiato

| length10 = 8:35

|}}

• {{Discogs master}}

{{Franco Battiato}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1998 albums

Category:Franco Battiato albums

Category:1990s Italian-language albums

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