Willos’ are an Italian/Irish/Canadian folk band currently based in lovely Siena, Italy. The name of the band is a play on Will o’ the Wisp, the band’s original name. According to their bio, a French journalist that named the band “les willos”, it the name stuck. The music is bright, fresh, Continue Reading
Italy
Tonino Balsamo – Sta Guagliona Mo Ddà
I have something of a love-hate relationship with the city of Naples in Italy, but what always left a big impression on me was the quality of the music coming out of the city of all genres. This particular single is a reissue by Periodica Records of an ultra-rare disco Continue Reading
Bruno Battisti D’Amario – Tastiere Oggi
Guitarist and soundtrack composer Bruno Battisti D’Amario was a major contributor and “first guitar” for the legendary Ennio Morricone, and with this album of library and lounge music, it highlights D’Amaro’s ability to mix funk, blues and even touches of psychedelic rock into a brilliant mix. Truly incredible mood music. Continue Reading
Sonologyst – Electrons (New Edition)
Our friend Sonologyst (Raffaele Pezzalla) has released his first project of 2023, and it’s a deep listen, taking the existence of electrons as its subject matter. From his Bandcamp site: “As the theory of the atom, quantum mechanics is perhaps the most successful theory in the history of science. It Continue Reading
Various Artists – Dracula – Music Inspired By The Bram Stoker’s Novel
Our dear friends at Eighth Tower Records never cease to surprise us with their choices for topics. This compilation, featuring the legendary Rapoon along with a slew of new artists, is dedicated to the novel that launched the career of Bram Stoker and make vampires alluring among the public well Continue Reading
La Compagnia Digitale – La Compagnia Digitale
This is a weird little gem. The three tracks on this album point not only to La Compagnia Digitale’s roots as an Italian progressive rock band, but there are even elements of the Berlin School which would make Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream proud. Think of this as a more Continue Reading
Various Artists – Nyarlathotep – A Tribute To Howard Phillips Lovecraft
Eighth Tower Records never disappoints! Each compilation they put out is so well put-together that the themes fit the subject material perfectly! This one is, of course, no exception. It is a paean to H. P. Lovecraft, perhaps America’s foremost horror and science-fiction writers. At least to my taste, Lovecraft Continue Reading
Various Artists – The Dystopian World of J. G.Ballard
Our dear friend Raffaelle Pellezza has curated another masterful compilation of dark ambient music focused on the British writer J. G. Ballard. From the release’s Bandcamp site: “In April 2009, J. G. Ballard died at the age of 78. By the end of his life he was recognized as one Continue Reading
Galaverna – Wagdans
I would have expected an album like this to come from England, the Netherlands or even somewhere in the Scandinavian realm, but to think that such a wonderfully played (and sung – in English!) album comes from Verona, Italy, of all places, shows that Galaverna are true students of such Continue Reading
Alessandra Celletti – Sacajawea
Within the next few weeks, I will conduct an interview with pianist Alessandra Celletti, a dear friend and one of Italy’s most colorful musicians. This one is her latest, and its centerpiece is based on the Lemhi Shoshone teenager who not only led the American explorers Lewis & Clarke in Continue Reading