Mauro Pagani: Self-Titled (Ascolto, 1978)

The late Seventies are one of the most overlooked periods in the history of Italian rock music. Just while our mediocre "punk" scene was slowly mutating into a florid post-punk milieu, the last remnants of the progressive era were evolving into something new and really unique. Some artists would undertake a "new wave" metamorphosis (think of Franco Battiato), some would hybridate with disco music (Goblin's Claudio Simonetti for example), some would delve into the fascinating musical traditions of the Mediterranean, getting closer and closer to the musical resarch of the "Canzonieri" movement.
P.F.M.'s Mauro Pagani's one of the key figures for this latter trend. After quitting P.F.M. in 1976, he ventured in a dense series of projects aimed at a new fusion of jazz-rock, ancient and traditional folk music, avantgarde experimentation. His first solo lp is perhaps the most mature fruit of his new interests and vision. The recording of the album involved three of the most proficient units around at the time in those fields: Area, P.F.M. and Canzoniere del Lazio, which cooperated in many tracks. It also features guest appearances of outstanding musicians such as former Musicanova singer Teresa De Sio and the amazing acoustic trad-folk guitarist Luca Balbo.

The music is outstanding and extremely varied. A mix of Middle-Eastern flavours, Southern Italian melodies, Sardinian dances; all coupled with refinate arrangements blending chamber music, jazz-rock and captivating avantgarde dilatations in a surprisingly light style.
To make it short: this is one of the best Italian albums ever published. Get it.

Tracklist:

1. Europa minor
2. Argiento
3. Violer d'amores
4. La città aromatica
5. L'albero di canto (Parte 1)
6. Choron
7. Il blu comincia davvero
8. L'albero di canto (Parte 2)

Credits:

• Mauro Pagani: violin, viola, mandolin, bouzouki, flute, composer, arranger (all tracks except 7)
• Mario Arcari: oboe (tracks 1, 2)
• Luca Balbo: guitar (track 7)
• Walter Calloni: percussion (tracks 1, 6)
• Teresa De Sio: vocals (track 2)
• Roberto Colombo: polymoog (track 4)
• Area:
  Demetrio Stratos: vocals (tracks 5, 8)
  Patrizio Fariselli: piano (tracks 1, 5)
  Giulio Capiozzo: drums (tracks 1,5)
  Ares Tavolazzi: bass, double bass (track 5)
• P.F.M.:
  Franz Di Cioccio: drums (track 4)
  Patrick Djivas: bass (track 4)
  Franco Mussida: guitar (track 4)
• Canzoniere del Lazio:
  Giorgio Vivaldi: percussion, talking drum (tracks 1, 6)
  Pasquale Minieri: percussion (track 1)
• Allan Goldberg: engineer (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 8)
• Carlo Martenet: engineer (tracks 4, 7)
• Marco Inzadi: engineer (track 6)
• Piero Bravin: mix (tracks 4, 7)

Download (224 kbps)


Similar music on the blog:
Premiata Forneria Marconi: Passpartù (Zoo Records, 1978)
Area: Maledetti (Cramps, 1976)

Malvasia: omonimo (Fonit Centra, 1979)

An offspawn of Canzoniere del Lazio published this album just after the group's disbanding, under the name Malvasia. The trio was composed of Francesco Giannattasio (accordion, percussions), Pietro Brega (voice) and Andrea Piazza (harp, formerly of I tarantolati di Tricarico).

This LP's easily one of the finest and most original ones I had the chance to listen among the so-called canzonieri scene which played a fundamental role in Italian post-68 leftist culture. The music's extremely refinate, blending Italian folklore (both from the North and from the South of the peninsula), sporadic celtic hints and baroque-like elegance, specially concerning the placid "chamber" flute/violin arrangements and guitar arpeggios.
This unusual baroque allure casts a peculiar, old-fashioned shadow on the atmosphere of the album, making it one of those rare albums which can create their own world and refuse any direct comparison. There's a sunny and quiet mood leavening the whole album: it sounds so simple and modest, even if it's evidently very carefully crafted...
There are a few tracks with vocals, with "Sali sali sole" shining particularly: a wonderful, heartful melody which magically creates a feeling of ascension and homeliness.

This album's specially recommended for those who liked Musicanova's "Festa Festa" - the end-of-an-era feeling, warmth and simplicity are quite close - or love Pierrot Lunaire's first album.

"Sali sali sole" is available for streaming in the new "official" muxtape of the blog, which will be constantly updated with sample tracks from the last posted albums.


Tracklist:

1. Valzer per Siglinda
2. Fany Poer
3. Tarantella di Zi' Antonio
4. Arcobaleno
5. Gemma 'e oro
6. Sali sali sole (stream it!)
   
7. Valzer di un momento
8. Tarantella maggiore e minore
9. Tanto tempo solo
   

Download (192 kbps):
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