Strap in and get ready, Salvatore Ganacci is taking listeners on a rollercoaster around the world with his debut album, Culturally Appropriate. Featuring 15 tracks, the album dips into multiple genres and collaborations. Most importantly, gives the listener a look into Ganacci’s mind.
If you’re unaware of the character that is Salvatore Ganacci, you’re in for a treat. There’s no one on the main stage like Ganacci. The Bosnian-Swedish artist embodies Dadaism in dance music: quirky tracks, hilarious and absurd performances, bizarre music videos, and short films that leave you questioning life. There’s always more to dissect with Ganacci.
Leading to the release of the album, Ganacci dropped two singles: “Fight Dirty” and “Take Me To America”–simple, yet catchy tech house tunes, featuring fascinating sample selections. Although these tunes don’t push any boundaries within tech house, they’re still a fun listen and clear indicators for the album—club tunes with samples of songs from around the world.
I listened to the album twice in two different mindsets. In my first listen, picturing a Ganacci DJ set, highlights included “And Dance,” “Bizerte,” “New Generation,” and “We Shall Overcum.” “And Dance,” screams Ganacci—sexy tech house with an absurd vocal. I could envision Ganacci’s bicycle kick handstand while listening. “Bizerte” features an awesome sample selection with Ganacci vocal chops in the song’s climax. “New Generation” and “We Shall Overcum” lean techno while keeping iconic Ganacci quirks. Trying to picture Ganacci spinning some of these records left me underwhelmed. I could picture a few awesome moments live yet many tunes were underdeveloped or out of place.
Returning with fresh ears, I listened purely in the context of the album. I enjoyed the tunes more and clearly understood Ganacci’s intent. Culturally Appropriate blends songs from around the world with current popular sounds in dance music. I’d love for Ganacci to develop content around each song, further contextualizing the story he was looking to tell.
Overall, Culturally Appropriate is Ganacci in an album—unapologetically going for it. Focusing on what I loved, Ganacci killed his uptempo tracks. “Take Me To America,” “New Generation” and “We Shall Overcum” were proper evolutions for Ganacci. They’re exciting and unusual, and you can visualize Ganacci’s absurdity in your mind. Although returning to Culturally Appropriate is likely a no-go, I can’t say I didn’t have fun.
Listen to Culturally Appropriate here.
Follow Salvatore Ganacci on Instagram.
Saint Audio 