Janus

Fiddler Antonio Fraioli and singer Monica Pinto established their reputation with Spaccanapoli, whose debut Lost Souls was published on Real World in 2000. Some troubles followed, then a new beginning came with the two founding members reshuffling the line-up and renaming themselves Spakka-Neapolis 55. This number corresponds to the number related to music in the Smorfia, the Neapolitan ‘book of numbers’ which supposedly helps you pick your lottery numbers via dream interpretation. Janus was the two-headed god facing opposite directions, a patron of changes and transitions; a fitting title for an album that mixes traditionally derived pieces and contemporary sounds.

The majority of the composing credits go to Fraioli, who draws folk forms from Campania with some diversions to the repertoires of Salento. Powerful drumming invigorates the opener ‘E Nnuvole’, a song in a tarantella rhythm featuring an unexpected Hammond providing an R&B-style harmony. On ‘N’ atu Sole, Pinto's strong singing is pitched against sinuous fiddle lines, obsessive drums and the blessed voice of Azeri maestro Alim Qasimov. Musical textures reminiscent of an Arab orchestra embellish ‘Canzone Precaria’, which showcases Annapia Ferrara's social concerned lyrics (as does ‘Scampia’). ‘A Giostra’ combines acid grooves and Middle-Eastern-tinged strings. ‘Spata r’ Oro’ follows, an eerie tammurriata emptied of all dance-floor corporeality. Finally, ‘Montemarano Dream’ presents reworked melodies of the carnival processional tarantella, creating a truly visionary atmosphere.