Rugged country, eclectic music.
A Strip of mixed people and sounds, Liguria lies in Italy’s north-west, a region squeezed between rugged hill tops and sea waves, stretching from the French Riviera to Tuscany, bordering Piedmont and Emilia. Ligurianl is a five member outfit from Genoa and Savona comprised of voice, flute, musette (bagpipes), melodeon, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and piano, and they are among the most renowned contributors to the Italian folk scene. They play with passion and vitality, with a fairly eclectic repertoire that matches the spirit of the land and its people. Accordingly, Liguriani display a wide assortment of influences, ranging from local traditions to traditional Italian folk and political ballads, with Irish flavours and hints of
bal musette and classical music.
The lyrics are in both standard Italian and Ligurian dialects. The opener, “Stamattina Si Va All'assalto” a traditional World War I song, is given a sure-footed execution that showcases the energetic guitar of Claudio De Angeli, with sparks of Filippo Gambettas melodeon. ‘Boghe’ is a sprightly tune by flautist Michel Balatti, dedicated to a tasty, though underappreciated fish found in the Ligurian sea. Further standouts include dances of the four provinces in the Appennines, and “Perigurdino di Paganini” revealing the illustrious violinist'.s interest in folk dances.
Further ettective numbers include “Sutta a Chi Tucca/Severino” and a dramatic song
about the steamship Sirius wreck, incorporating a stirring instrumental theme. The brilliant piper Rinaudo penned the two tunes “Valse du Driveur/Jolanda”: the first arranged in manouche style, the second showing the groups subtle intcrweaving. The accomplished musicianship makes for a truly enjoyable CD.
01 - Stamattina si va all'assalto - Boghe
02 - Alessandrina in Re - Monferrine
03 - Calissun - Piva di San Dalmazio
04 - Dieci anni e più d'amore - La freccia del Turchino
05 - Sutta a chi tucca - Severino
06 - O Pandoce (Mauro Pirovano legge la poesia di Martin Piaggio)
07 - Perigordino di Paganini - Giga di Gilli
08 - Il tragico naufragio del vapore Sirio - Verso la luce
09 - Valse du Driveur - Jolanda
10 - O Gorizia tu sei maledetta - U garollu
11 - Tiribi taraba - A figgia de Pariggi
Fabio Biale: Vocals, Fiddle, Percussion, Guitar
Michel Balatti: Wooden flute
Fabio Rinaudo: Bagpipes
Filippo Gambetta: Accordion
Claudio De Angeli: Guitar