PeaceT(b)lo(g)

And finally the last working day of the year. Tomorrow I’ll be flying to Napoli and I’ll stay there for some time. Actually I made some calculation and it will be 17 days! I don’t recall such a long holiday since the time I was at the university. During my working lifetime I just spent no more than 2 weeks off. (Bad habits can always be changed!)

What will be about this BLOG? As for the last Xmas time, it will go on holiday with me! It will be always accessible, of course, for the ones of you who wants to listen to some old songs and/or find if they miss some of them during this year and a few months this page has been created.

What to choose for the last post of the year? I thought about something similar to the one I chose for the last post of 2007. Therefore I chose Starsailor.

This band comes from UK and they are part of the same musical period and movement as for Kings of Convenience (that I posted on last post for 2007). What can I say about them?! I got one of the three CDs they released and played sometimes. Nothing incredible indeed, but something to keep on the shelf in case you need to listen to some music that talks about love… and its surroundings.

Let’s cut the crap of this page, let’s listen to some music. Let’s listen to the song “Love is Here”:

Somehow I feel blue. Tomorrow I’ll feel red again!

Domenico

One day and then holidays! Today actually I should have played DJ for a party at the IAEA, within the V.I.C., that is the compund where I work. It could have been quite cool indeed because I would have played some music here while colleagues and visitors would have enjoyed it! Unfortunately, the party has been postponed to the 19th but at that time I’ll be already gone. Life.

But there is always a next time and a next place when and where I’ll play my stuffs. Meanwhile, I give you an idea of the things that I’m listening during this period, like the the Friendly Fires.

This band is brand bew. They come from Hertfordshire, UK, and they are a trio with two drums and a singer. I didn’t know anything about them until my musical insider, that will be also my host in Napoli, gave me the hint to listen to them, as to an unexplored territory.

Therefore the only thing I can say is which effect they have produced to me… that is, they remind me of some artists from DFA, like LCD Soundsystems, and Whomadewho. But they also have something from some rock musical scene that goes back to the 8Os.

The video I like more is the one for the song “Paris”. What do you think about that?

Domenico

countdown started just yesterday! Today we start the relaxing part of the week, for I have a seminar and then a weird (for the time it happens… around 4:30) late lunch/pre-dinner with my colleagues and then I’m calling the day off! Tomorrow it will be even funnier…. but I’ll let you know!

Today we talk about Brad.

Brad is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington about 16 years ago. Brad’s sound is influenced by the wide variety of influences brought by its members, including Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam. The distinctive vocals of Shawn Smith (also a member of “Pigeonhed and Satchel”) are a major factor in this sound.

I don’t know anything else about his band, but just rely on the hint sent me by my inspirer, Dr.C, who sent me a message on Facebook some weeks ago, suggesting me to listen to the song I’m gonna post today for you.

The song is “The day brings”.

Unfortunately, all the versions of the video I found are not available to be embedded. Therefore you gotta go directly to the following link:

The day brings

Enjoy it.

Domenico

And this is the last week of my working year and therefore it’s the last week for this BLOG… just for the year, incidentally!

It’s also a busy busy week for I still have some work to be completed. Still have some persons to see. Still have some parties to attend and (just one) to play into. Still 4 posts to prepare and then I’m gone.

Today we talk about Al Mukawama.

This Neapolitan band resulted, some years ago, from the split of the famous band 99 posse. Actually two of the three components are Luca “Zulu” Persico and Papa J, that are the two guys who founded the 99 posse. The third component is DJ Perch (from the band Zion Train).

Al Mukawama is an arab word that means “The Resistance”, presenting an alternative concept and image of the common topic where an arab is a fundamentalist or a terrorist. The elements in their homonym and only CD are not so far from the ones present in the discography of 99 posse (Anti-racism, no war, no disctimination at every level).

They lasted some time and I don’t think they’re still around because of Luca Persico joining another band and because of his evident problems with drug.

One of their effort has been to strongly participate in the O.S.T. of the movie “Fame Chimica”. The song we are going to listen today has exactly the same name:

Domenico

Friday. The last one in Vienna before the Xmas time. On Monday I’ll start the final countdown that keeps me separated from Naples, Rome, my brother, my friends, my relatives. I’m so badly looking forward to that. But it’s always good to stop thinking to far in the future and enjoy the time you’re living in. This is the main lesson learned since a while.

Today, to be prepared for the weekend, I’ll talk about the Coldcut.

This English dance music duo is around since when I was really young. We talk about 1986 and they are well known for their pioneering technique of using of hip hop style samples in dance music. I remember the remix of the song “Paid In Full” from Erik B. & Rakim. That one is still up in my mind. Like I still remember the song “People Hold On” with Lisa Stansfield featuring! Great and cool dance songs.

Recently they released a new CD from which today’s song is taken from. The song is “True Skool”, featuring Roots Manuva:

Domenico

Today I want to share with you the great experience coming from my memory when I attended a live show of one of the most significant Italian bands that have been part of some independent musical scene.

I’m talking about the C.S.I.

C.S.I. stands for Consorzio Suonatori Indipendenti. This band was born after the fall of the Berlin’s wall, when some of the members from the communist band CCCP and some others from the band Litfiba met and decided to form this band. Leader of that, singer and composer is Giovanni Lindo Ferretti (who had also his solo project) accompanied by the gorgeous Ginevra Di Marco (as a second singer) and supported by incredible musicians like Gianni Maroccolo (that now is playing the bass guitar together with Marlene Kuntz), Giorgio Canali (now involved in several different parallel projects) and Massimo Zamboni (who left the band).

This band reached the highest peak of visibility in 1997, with the CD “Tabula Rasa Elettrificata” (T.R.E.) which is simply massive! Another great performance at that time is represented by the live album “La terra, la guerra, una questione privata”, a concert played in an unconsecrated church in the city of Alba, a concert played in memory of the writer Beppe Fenoglio.

I was talking about the concert I attended. It was the one for the CD T.R.E. and everybody was saying that Lindo Ferretti was sick or about to die for either HIV or heroin. He appeared on stage with a rope tied up on his eyes, standing on the stage like in a coma. Then the music surrounded the live stage of the Palapartenope in Naples and it was so great to be there. I was with DarioB, maybe attending the last live show we wnet together. Great one!

Today I want to delight your ears with the song “Bolormaa” from the mentioned CD T.R.E.:

Domenico

Hey you all. Today is a great day. Don’t know why or maybe I do. Most probably I do. I keep going on and on, looking forward to the so close holyday. Looking at things happening. Living the day. With the wind on my face. My Ipod in my ears. The hands in the pockets of my coat. Enjoying, enjoying, enjoying!

And to contribute to this state of mind, I discovered the artists I’m going to talk about today: Herman Dune.

Heman Dune is the name of a French duo, formed in 1999. Some historical facts found around say that “Originally the were a trio, the band now consists of David-Ivar Herman Düne (guitars and vocals) and Néman Herman Düne (drums and sometimes backing vocals). Néman, who is from Switzerland, replaced former drummer Omé in early 2001. On December 13th, 2006, André Herman Düne played his last show with the band, and subsequently changed his name to Stanley Brinks. With Andre’s departure, the umlaut was dropped from the name. The band are often joined by other musicians on live performances”

While they have been influenced by musicians as Chuck Berry, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Carole King, I found something from Jack Johnson and Simon and Garfunkel in the song I’m going to share with you today, that is “I Wish That I Could See You Soon”:

Domenico