Album review: Thomas Raggi – Masquerade

Thomas Raggi is Måneskin's quiet anchor, bringing their vintage rock ‘n’ roll vision to life with his agile fretwork. On his debut solo album, he gets a chance to do more of the talking. Not unlike producer and collaborator Tom Morello’s solo albums, he’s assembled a starry cast from the pages of his likely bulging contacts book to help construct a vision all of his own.

Sonically, Thomas’ solo music is closer to Maneskin’s than that of colleague Damiano David (who released the indie-tinged Funny Little Fears earlier this year), but he’s certainly not regurgitated their usual style. His tone is lower, grittier, filthier even, lending a song like KEEP THE PACK a barbed, devilish energy (complete with a burbling solo). Tom Morello’s fingerprints are all over GETCHA!, a suave supergroup number with a lithe groove that fits in the raspy rap-like delivery of Jet’s Nic Cester and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith. Even with names as huge of these, he’s taking up the space he deserves but generously so rather than coming off egotistical.

His efforts are elevated by the quality of the guest appearances. Upsahl’s melodious but husky tones make LUCY truly sparkle, while Kasabian’s Serge Pizzorno adds an abrasive edge to the rippling riffs beneath him on CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE. The only letdown is a cover of Dead Or Alive’s YOU SPIN ME ROUND (Like A Record), where for all of Thomas’ squalling riff work, it’s obviously just there as padding as it doesn’t quite fit in, and Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos performs as if it’s mere karaoke.

Other than that, Thomas has masterminded a very solid collection of songs and though they’re not stretching rock ‘n’ roll to entirely new dimensions, they offer a tantalising glimpse into who this man is when he’s not a cog in a bigger machine.

Verdict: 3/5

For fans of: Måneskin, Rage Against The Machine, Royal Blood

Masquerade is out now via RCA