Author: Ciro De Rosa
View album and artist detailsArtist/band: |
Suonno d’Ajere |
Label: |
Italian World Beat |
Magazine Review Date: |
May/2022 |
Canzone napoletana, the world’s best-known Italian popular music, has enthralled Suonno d’Ajere (Yesterday’s Dream) – a young Neapolitan trio employing voice, classical guitar, mandolin, mandola and mandocello – whose instrumentation and neo-retro style evoke early 20th-century posteggia (street, café and restaurant wandering musicians). Yet, the trio master a far more proficient and sophisticated attitude, integrating philology and contemporaneity with folk and classical sensibilities, and conveying an intimate conspiring sound, while proposing a wide-ranging repertoire, including a few overlooked songs.
Their debut recording is an absolute delight from the opening rendition of the serenade ‘Scétate’. A contrasting mood pervades the ironical ‘O Guappo ‘Nnammurato’ and the passionate “A Bonanema ‘e Li’ammore’; on the latter the remarkable singer Irene Scarpato embodies the charming bearing of a sciantosa (café-chantant singer). Elsewhere, ‘Nun è Carmela Mia’ is another superb, emotionally-charged vocal interpretation. ‘Silenzio Cantatore’ offers a minimalistic mood, while Gian Marco Libeccio’s guitar explores melodies and rhythms on the Andalusian-flavoured “E Ppentite’. Another album highlight, ‘Num me Scetà’, is infused with a fado feel. Next is mandolinist Marcello Smigliante Gentile’s self-penned ‘Suspiro’, an inspired amalgamation of classicism and contemporary modes. Finally, on the bonus track “A Rezza’, guest double-bassist Ferruccio Spinetti solidly sustains the interweaving strings and Scarpato’s smooth timbre. A captivating celebration of a living musical treasure, delivered in a refined manner.
Start your journey and discover the very best music from around the world.
Subscribe