- Striking Italian-English hip-hop about the nature of apathy, with excellent production from O$VMV$M.
- There's a place reserved for the apathetic at the gates of Dante Alighieri's Hell. There, those who failed to ever care enough to pick a side are forced (by a swarm of hornets) to chase after a meaningless banner for eternity. This is where non-conformist Italian rapper Franco Franco finds himself on "Apatia"—the standout single from their album Solo Fiori—with a neo-noir sound collage from O$VMV$M behind him.
Franco Franco's verses flow laboriously forward. Rich, musical words like "farneticanti" are drawn-out and the wordplay is dense, almost hidden. He plays off English and Italian phonics to reflect the monotony of his reclusive lifestyle as everything sort of blends into one. The most poignant moment of the track is actually the most candid. After he wishes the shopkeeper at the off-licence "a good day and evening," Franco follows it with "but tizio frega cazz preso da altro" ("but neither of us gives a flying fuck about the other"). The juxtaposition between his almost sing-song well wishes and the venom of the zs and ks in his Italian reflects an inner turmoil.
O$VMV$M offer an interesting contrast to Franco's angst-ridden raps. Their jolly, chiming beat pushes him gently along and, once Franco has finished his monologue, the tack eventually blossoms into a slowed-down but summery soul tune, either a hopeful counterbalance to Franco's gloom or it mirrors our willingness to turn a blind eye to apathy. Episodes like the one described at the off-licence are universal: everyday we exchange meaningless pleasantries. This is why "Apatia" stands out. It's a poetic and personal take on an attitude that seems harmless but actually reflects a growing lack of compassion for one another—and how knowing that can drag you down to the depths of despair.