Milano: The Naked City
Those of you who have never lived in a metropolis like Milano, who have never breathed the greyness of the city, who aren’t familiar with the thickness of its impenetrable fog, who have never stared at the empty faces of people passing by, and who have never spent the early moments of the morning in an underground station searching for the right metro line can surely enjoy the poetry of this CD(entitled Semper Biot), but if you haven’t actually experienced all these things you will not be able to fully appreciate the underlying rawness that is presented in every note that is played.
The traffic, sleeping bunkers for commuters, the indifference of the people, the noise and odours of the city are all expressed by Edda (Stefano Edda Rampoldi )with a sense of expressive urgency that will take your breath away. The minimalist arrangements are key elements for this versatile voice to find its way between the musical notes, dispensing strong emotions that are disquieting without a touch of stabilty. There seems to be a soul inside this work who is never satisfied with what life has presented him, yet too sensitive to sustain damaging attacks of reality on a daily basis. The lyrics are direct, biting and raw and call to those with similar afflictions, those individuals dragging around the same emotional baggage to heed his words.
This is a true life parable that Stefano lived first-hand and led him to become the singer of one of the more famous groups of Milano’s 90s musical scene (Ritmo Tribale) before falling victim to depression, drug addiction and complete personal abandonment in search of something or someone to answer the relentless questions buried in his soul.
This CD is a small but significant resurrection for an artist who knows how to sing better than most. He couldn't care less about the rights and wrongs or the ins and outs of the music industry. The CD proves to be delicate and intimate, and will give the appreciative listener an immediate goose bump reaction after hearing the first note. It fills you with a sensation like you’ve stripped off all your clothes in public and feel absolutely no remorse nor embarrassment.
“Milano”, “L’Innamorato” and “Per Semper Biot” are three jewels that are part of the 12-track treasure which fill Semper Biòt with strong emotions, desperation, relief and perplexity. The CD is a peculiar mixture of darkness and light and may leave many undecided and uncertain after the first superficial listen. After a second listen session, indifference is quite impossible.
It has captured our imagination; how about yours?
Jacopo Ravagnan
English translation by Karin Andrea Halliwell
http://www.myspace.com/stefanoeddarampoldi
Artists permanently (and randomly) "on air" at present date:
Edda(Italy), LCD Soundsystem (USA), Replace The Battery(Italy), The Drums(USA), Fauve! Genen a Rhino (Italy), Maika Makovski (Spain), DID (Italy), Massimo Volume (Italy), Senpai (Italy), Dude Plays Saxophone (USA), Toundra (Spain), Maxena Tace (Italy),Sawako (Japan), The Cleopatras (Italy), Hollowblue (Italy), OPA (USA), Nora Keyes (USA), Simona Gretchen(Italy), Facciascura (Italy), hiiragi fukuda (Japan), Stardog(Italy), I Got A Violet(Italy), The Agrarians (USA); Feldmaus (Russia); Red Velvet (Italy - France); Eigenheimer (Holland); Drugs Made Me Smarter (Mexico); Kelvin & Speedy Peones (Italy); Tidy Kid (USA); NIMM (Italy); MorningPaper (Italy), Edgar Graves (Czech Republic), Marshmallow (Croatia), David Morley (England/Belgium); Bancale (Italy); Antony Raijekov (Bulgary); Amélie (Italy); Celestial Aeon Project (Finland); Channel in Channel out (USA); Madrigali Magri (Italy), Gimme 'hat Moonshine (Belgium), Krakenti (Latvia), Wheelchair Discotheque (Latvia), TheOneOnTheIsland (Slovakia), Maok (Slovakia), LaBon (Slovakia), Jordan Jordan (Slovakia), Social Society (Slovakia), Batte (Norway), Orange Crush (Norway), Oriental Music System (Hong Kong), Iamsum (Hong Kong), Rex Cody (Hong Kong), Donkey Valium (Hong Kong), Smiling Buddhas (Hong Kong), O-M (Hong Kong), Hvoya (Ukraine), Automatic Pilot Required (Brazil), Yogi (Brazil), Light Merchants (South Africa), The Slowmovies (Italy); I am this (USA); Kråkvind (Sweden); Planet Brain (Italy); Lebatol (UK); Sarah Schuster (Italy); Krt 963 (Italy-Japan); Flap (Italy); Nicker Hill Orchestra (Italy); Menrovescio (Italy); Annabel (USA); Karmatest (Italy); The Dada Weatherman (France); Diablo Swing Orchestra (Sweden); Japanese gum (Italy); Above the tree (Italy); Volcano Playground (Canada); Linz (Italy); Anomie Belle (USA), Christophe Marc (France), Death Valley Sleepers (Denmark), Jeremy Sparrow (Denmark), Zoon van snooK (England), Systemton (Germany), Matti Bye (Sweden), Manuzik (Japan), Chances (Italy), Hometaping (Great Britain...?), Ping (Norway), Frey (New Zealand), Manhan (Japan), One Chef (Sweden), Mijagi (Poland), Pandacetamol (Scotland), Lu-Sin (Argentina), Thomas Solgaard (Denmark), Wonderboy (France), Los Hermanos Butaca (Argentina), La Biyuya (Argentina), Negro Fluo (Argentina), Sempai (Italy), Riccardo Vianello (Italy), Wolther goes stranger (Italy), Eildentroeilfuorieilbox84 (Italy), Buzz Aldrin (Italy), Stefano Roveda (Italy), Rosso! (Italy); manzOni (Italy).
My Way
Regrets, I've had a few; But then again, too few to mention. Ah yes, the immortal words of Frank Sinatra in "My Way"… It must be nice to live without regrets. I, on the other hand, have too many to mention. The one that has been plaguing me lately is the fact that I missed the LCD Soundsystem concert in Ferrara last year. I was all geared up to go, and then for some stupid reason that I can’t seem to recall, I never got there. It wasn’t like I was tripping on magic mushrooms or having an out of body experience. I was just simply doing it MY WAY, i.e., putting things off today thinking I could do them another time. Bad move, because I have just discovered that on April 2nd, 2011 LCD Soundsystem will play their last show EVER in New York City's Madison Square Garden. This is no joking matter. As LCD put it, “We are retiring from the game. Gettin’ out. Movin’ on”. I feel betrayed by lead singer James Murphy and have the burning desire to literally throw myself out the bloody window. Regrets, regrets, regrets. So take it from me, if you're fortunate enough to be in the City That Never Sleeps in April, do everything in your power to see the gig. But if you just can’t make it, try to get your hands on their latest highly acclaimed CD, This Is Happening, released in 2010. Then imagine just how fun that farewell bash at Madison Square Garden would have been.
LCD are no strangers to the dance music genre. They are pros when it come to moving bodies. A severe combo of a mean synth, bouncing baseline and Murphy's voice—which tantalizes with its highs and lows—refuses to let you to remain in your seat. Each track is unique and intrepid. The lyrics are humorous and profound. "Dance Yourself Clean" starts off slow and repetitive, and just when you begin to ask yourself where the piece is going, the drum line kicks in, threatening to blow out your speakers. This is electronic music at its best. "One Touch," with its marching retro-Kraftwerk sound evolves in your ears: new sounds are added, removed, distorted; the outcome, however, is perfect harmony. Yours truly's favorite track is "All I Want," with its new wave edge and echoes of early Bowie (who Murphy says has radically influenced his music).
If this is really the end of the line for LCD Soundsystem, This is Happening is a grandiose exit stage left. It won't be the end of James Murphy and his musical collaboration, though. You can bet on that.
Karin Andrea Halliwell for more info: www.lcdsoundsystem.com
Artists permanently (and randomly) "on air" at present date:
LCD Soundsystem(USA), Replace The Battery(Italy), The Drums(USA), Fauve! Genen a Rhino (Italy), Maika Makovski (Spain), DID (Italy), Massimo Volume (Italy), Senpai (Italy), Dude Plays Saxophone (USA), Toundra (Spain), Maxena Tace (Italy),Sawako (Japan), The Cleopatras (Italy), Hollowblue (Italy), OPA (USA), Nora Keyes (USA), Simona Gretchen(Italy), Facciascura (Italy), hiiragi fukuda (Japan), Stardog(Italy), I Got A Violet(Italy), The Agrarians (USA); Feldmaus (Russia); Red Velvet (Italy - France); Eigenheimer (Holland); Drugs Made Me Smarter (Mexico); Kelvin & Speedy Peones (Italy); Tidy Kid (USA); NIMM (Italy); MorningPaper (Italy), Edgar Graves (Czech Republic), Marshmallow (Croatia), David Morley (England/Belgium); Bancale (Italy); Antony Raijekov (Bulgary); Amélie (Italy); Celestial Aeon Project (Finland); Channel in Channel out (USA); Madrigali Magri (Italy), Gimme 'hat Moonshine (Belgium), Krakenti (Latvia), Wheelchair Discotheque (Latvia), TheOneOnTheIsland (Slovakia), Maok (Slovakia), LaBon (Slovakia), Jordan Jordan (Slovakia), Social Society (Slovakia), Batte (Norway), Orange Crush (Norway), Oriental Music System (Hong Kong), Iamsum (Hong Kong), Rex Cody (Hong Kong), Donkey Valium (Hong Kong), Smiling Buddhas (Hong Kong), O-M (Hong Kong), Hvoya (Ukraine), Automatic Pilot Required (Brazil), Yogi (Brazil), Light Merchants (South Africa), The Slowmovies (Italy); I am this (USA); Kråkvind (Sweden); Planet Brain (Italy); Lebatol (UK); Sarah Schuster (Italy); Krt 963 (Italy-Japan); Flap (Italy); Nicker Hill Orchestra (Italy); Menrovescio (Italy); Annabel (USA); Karmatest (Italy); The Dada Weatherman (France); Diablo Swing Orchestra (Sweden); Japanese gum (Italy); Above the tree (Italy); Volcano Playground (Canada); Linz (Italy); Anomie Belle (USA), Christophe Marc (France), Death Valley Sleepers (Denmark), Jeremy Sparrow (Denmark), Zoon van snooK (England), Systemton (Germany), Matti Bye (Sweden), Manuzik (Japan), Chances (Italy), Hometaping (Great Britain...?), Ping (Norway), Frey (New Zealand), Manhan (Japan), One Chef (Sweden), Mijagi (Poland), Pandacetamol (Scotland), Lu-Sin (Argentina), Thomas Solgaard (Denmark), Wonderboy (France), Los Hermanos Butaca (Argentina), La Biyuya (Argentina), Negro Fluo (Argentina), Sempai (Italy), Riccardo Vianello (Italy), Wolther goes stranger (Italy), Eildentroeilfuorieilbox84 (Italy), Buzz Aldrin (Italy), Stefano Roveda (Italy), Rosso! (Italy); manzOni (Italy).
Talk about a dazzling return….
We left them in the studio to seek out new musical creativity and we find them now more even more in form with their new work called "Daily Birthday ".
Replace the Battery have become wiser with age but everyone knows that age has nothing to do with making music. Don’t worry they have not abandoned that post-rock approach you all love so much, but they have contaminated their sound with a pinch of pop and a dash of electronics.
They have left in some tracks that include voices that are truly ethereal which guide you through their exclusive sound territory. In fact the work that they have created is fascinating because of its extreme personal nature even though it contains a multitude of references.
The title track 'Daily Birthday' recalls scenes from Icelandic (close your eyes and listen if you do not believe me), 'Lupo' is the song that Mogwai never got around to write, 'Sacrifice' has a chorus that you'll be singing while you are in a traffic jam.
Like good wine Replace the Battery also improves with time. Do not forget to take a look at their label’s web site called In the Bottle Records. Replace the Battery will not be the last group coming from this wonderful indie movement we hear so much about.
Stay tuned
Jacopo Ravagnan
http://www.myspace.com/replacethebattery
http://www.myspace.com/inthebottlerecords
English translation by Karin Andrea Halliwell
Artists permanently (and randomly) "on air" at present date:
Replace The Battery(Italy), The Drums(USA), Fauve! Genen a Rhino (Italy), Maika Makovski (Spain), DID (Italy), Massimo Volume (Italy), Senpai (Italy), Dude Plays Saxophone (USA), Toundra (Spain), Maxena Tace (Italy),Sawako (Japan), The Cleopatras (Italy), Hollowblue (Italy), OPA (USA), Nora Keyes (USA), Simona Gretchen(Italy), Facciascura (Italy), hiiragi fukuda (Japan), Stardog(Italy), I Got A Violet(Italy), The Agrarians (USA); Feldmaus (Russia); Red Velvet (Italy - France); Eigenheimer (Holland); Drugs Made Me Smarter (Mexico); Kelvin & Speedy Peones (Italy); Tidy Kid (USA); NIMM (Italy); MorningPaper (Italy), Edgar Graves (Czech Republic), Marshmallow (Croatia), David Morley (England/Belgium); Bancale (Italy); Antony Raijekov (Bulgary); Amélie (Italy); Celestial Aeon Project (Finland); Channel in Channel out (USA); Madrigali Magri (Italy), Gimme 'hat Moonshine (Belgium), Krakenti (Latvia), Wheelchair Discotheque (Latvia), TheOneOnTheIsland (Slovakia), Maok (Slovakia), LaBon (Slovakia), Jordan Jordan (Slovakia), Social Society (Slovakia), Batte (Norway), Orange Crush (Norway), Oriental Music System (Hong Kong), Iamsum (Hong Kong), Rex Cody (Hong Kong), Donkey Valium (Hong Kong), Smiling Buddhas (Hong Kong), O-M (Hong Kong), Hvoya (Ukraine), Automatic Pilot Required (Brazil), Yogi (Brazil), Light Merchants (South Africa), The Slowmovies (Italy); I am this (USA); Kråkvind (Sweden); Planet Brain (Italy); Lebatol (UK); Sarah Schuster (Italy); Krt 963 (Italy-Japan); Flap (Italy); Nicker Hill Orchestra (Italy); Menrovescio (Italy); Annabel (USA); Karmatest (Italy); The Dada Weatherman (France); Diablo Swing Orchestra (Sweden); Japanese gum (Italy); Above the tree (Italy); Volcano Playground (Canada); Linz (Italy); Anomie Belle (USA), Christophe Marc (France), Death Valley Sleepers (Denmark), Jeremy Sparrow (Denmark), Zoon van snooK (England), Systemton (Germany), Matti Bye (Sweden), Manuzik (Japan), Chances (Italy), Hometaping (Great Britain...?), Ping (Norway), Frey (New Zealand), Manhan (Japan), One Chef (Sweden), Mijagi (Poland), Pandacetamol (Scotland), Lu-Sin (Argentina), Thomas Solgaard (Denmark), Wonderboy (France), Los Hermanos Butaca (Argentina), La Biyuya (Argentina), Negro Fluo (Argentina), Sempai (Italy), Riccardo Vianello (Italy), Wolther goes stranger (Italy), Eildentroeilfuorieilbox84 (Italy), Buzz Aldrin (Italy), Stefano Roveda (Italy), Rosso! (Italy); manzOni (Italy).
Good Vibrations
It's difficult to find a person whose favourite season is winter. Where I live, outside of Venice, Italy, it's not the cold temperatures that get you down- it's the dampness, grey skies and above all, the thick fog that rolls in without warning. You mope around feeling like a depressed prisoner of the weather. Everyone around you seems to complain and longs for the summer when life gets a little lighter and a bit more carefree.
If you feel the way I do at this very moment I would strongly suggest putting on a pair of sunglasses and kicking back on the couch with the music of The Drums to keep you company. Released in 2009, Summertime! is like a perfect summer day. The first time listening to the CD three things come to mind : optimism, blue summer skies and being in love for the first time. Songwriter and lead singer, Jonny Pierce, sings with great sincerity. The lyrics are all about affairs of the heart - joys and agony of love. Yet the songs are upbeat, even if the subject is sometimes painful. Pierce never whines. He just is tries his best to convince you that his intentions are good ones.
Summertime! is beautifully produced to have a raw garage sound. The musical arrangements are excellent. Everything falls into its proper place. Not one instrument over powers the another. Simplicity shouldn't be confused with banality. Sometimes their sound reminds you of the retro 80's with and a mixture of a Beach Boys surfing style.
“Let’s Go Surfing” and "The Saddest Summer" will have you snapping your fingers. "Down by the Water" will have you dreaming of a slow dance beside a bonfire on the beach. "I Felt Stupid" will convince you to run away into a picturesque sunset with Jonny Pierce. He's that convincing and adorable at the same time.
Summertime! will help you get through your winter blues. But if you're in a serious rut, The Drums released a new CD last year called The Drums which is filled with the same excellent feel good music.
Karin Andrea Halliwell
www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever
Artists permanently (and randomly) "on air" at present date:
The Drums(USA), Fauve! Genen a Rhino (Italy), Maika Makovski (Spain), DID (Italy), Massimo Volume (Italy), Senpai (Italy), Dude Plays Saxophone (USA), Toundra (Spain), Maxena Tace (Italy),Sawako (Japan), The Cleopatras (Italy), Hollowblue (Italy), OPA (USA), Nora Keyes (USA), Simona Gretchen(Italy), Facciascura (Italy), hiiragi fukuda (Japan), Stardog(Italy), I Got A Violet(Italy), The Agrarians (USA); Feldmaus (Russia); Red Velvet (Italy - France); Eigenheimer (Holland); Drugs Made Me Smarter (Mexico); Kelvin & Speedy Peones (Italy); Tidy Kid (USA); NIMM (Italy); MorningPaper (Italy), Edgar Graves (Czech Republic), Marshmallow (Croatia), David Morley (England/Belgium); Bancale (Italy); Antony Raijekov (Bulgary); Amélie (Italy); Celestial Aeon Project (Finland); Channel in Channel out (USA); Madrigali Magri (Italy), Gimme 'hat Moonshine (Belgium), Krakenti (Latvia), Wheelchair Discotheque (Latvia), TheOneOnTheIsland (Slovakia), Maok (Slovakia), LaBon (Slovakia), Jordan Jordan (Slovakia), Social Society (Slovakia), Batte (Norway), Orange Crush (Norway), Oriental Music System (Hong Kong), Iamsum (Hong Kong), Rex Cody (Hong Kong), Donkey Valium (Hong Kong), Smiling Buddhas (Hong Kong), O-M (Hong Kong), Hvoya (Ukraine), Automatic Pilot Required (Brazil), Yogi (Brazil), Light Merchants (South Africa), The Slowmovies (Italy); I am this (USA); Kråkvind (Sweden); Planet Brain (Italy); Lebatol (UK); Sarah Schuster (Italy); Krt 963 (Italy-Japan); Flap (Italy); Nicker Hill Orchestra (Italy); Menrovescio (Italy); Annabel (USA); Karmatest (Italy); The Dada Weatherman (France); Diablo Swing Orchestra (Sweden); Japanese gum (Italy); Above the tree (Italy); Volcano Playground (Canada); Linz (Italy); Anomie Belle (USA), Christophe Marc (France), Death Valley Sleepers (Denmark), Jeremy Sparrow (Denmark), Zoon van snooK (England), Systemton (Germany), Matti Bye (Sweden), Manuzik (Japan), Chances (Italy), Hometaping (Great Britain...?), Ping (Norway), Frey (New Zealand), Manhan (Japan), One Chef (Sweden), Mijagi (Poland), Pandacetamol (Scotland), Lu-Sin (Argentina), Thomas Solgaard (Denmark), Wonderboy (France), Los Hermanos Butaca (Argentina), La Biyuya (Argentina), Negro Fluo (Argentina), Sempai (Italy), Riccardo Vianello (Italy), Wolther goes stranger (Italy), Eildentroeilfuorieilbox84 (Italy), Buzz Aldrin (Italy), Stefano Roveda (Italy), Rosso! (Italy); manzOni (Italy).