Album Review: Giuseppe Cucé – 21 Grammi

21 Grammi (21 grams) is a reference to a belief that I first heard of in the film of the same name by Alejandro González Iñárritu.

It dates back to 1907, though, that a human soul, something believed to be immeasurable and unquantifiable, has a physical presence that can be observed and measured, especially at the point of death. Giuseppe Cucé’s album of the same name looks at the nature of the soul, how we are born with it, and how we and it change through life.

That core message is at the heart of tracks like Ventuno – the Italian for ‘twenty-one’ – that tackle the issues directly. Cucé has a voice that works wonderfully on slow-burning, soulful numbers like Ventuno, the initially searching tones of his vocals possessing a world-weary, questioning tone that is incredibly moving as they display an increasing confidence in line with the arrangement.

A particular highlight for me is È tutto così vero, which pre-dates Lux but explores a similar mix of Latin sounds and existential questioning, but in a lighter, Latino setting. A song that makes you think and the rhythms urge you to dance is one to be savoured!

My understanding of Italian is minimal, but words and phrases spring out at the listener to offer understanding. And again, Cucé has a versatile and open vocal style that gives broad hints to the lyrics’ meanings, so you can always grasp the essence of the album’s themes of body, soul, truth, and their relationships with each other.

The album comes across as following a narrative from the joy of birth to the acceptance of death but, accepting that these can be difficult issues for people to deal with, frames them in cinematic arrangements that blend pop, rock, and Latin sounds into an intimate and approaching religious experience.

21 Grammi is available for streaming on Spotify and YouTube Music. For artist news and other streaming options, be sure to check out Giuseppe Cucé on Instagram.