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).
