Finally some cool
trip-hop down-tempo musick. Nothing like waiting until Europe
was almost traversed to lay out some chill. Must be the Mediterranean.
Ethnic Sicilian trip-hop nonetheless. Really more like ethnostep with a very
strong African flavor. Must be getting close to Europe’s
southern neighbor. I’m not too good at labels, but this is sweeeeeet!
Agricantus is
a Sicilian musical group formed in Palermo,
Sicily, in 1979. Palermo is the capital of
both the autonomous region of Sicily & the
Province of Palermo. The city is over 2,700 years
old. They have a long history of involvement in music & the arts.
The group was started by Tonj Acquaviva. He studied guitar
in the 70s & then became interested in the ethnic music of Sicily & the Andean
Cordillera. In conjunction with his new-found musical tastes, he became
proficient in many folk intruments from stringed & wind to percussion:
quena; tarka; sikus; guitar; mandolin; charango; bombo; frame drums; qraqeb;
darbouka; cajon; & tam tam to name but a sample of the listing.
Agricantus traveled Europe
for a number of years as street musicians, absorbing many styles of local
music. In the mid 90s they traveled & performed in Europe, South America,
the Middle East, & Asia. By the late 90s
they were back in Sicily,
working closely with musicians in the Taorima area. Taorima is a commune &
small town in the Messina Province of eastern Sicily. In 1999 Tonj received theTaorima
Arts & Sciences music award.
Agricanthus
has had many members during its varied history. The main members are: Tonj
Acquiaviva – lead male vocals, keyboards, drum machines, ethnic percussion,
programming, & sampling; Rosie Wiederkehr – lead vocals; Lutte Berg –
guitar; Mario Rivera – bass; Mario Crispi – wind instruments.
Agricantus – Calura, Sconfini 7, 2002.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist –
Jamila
Jusu E Susu (L' Esperienza Chill Out
remix Dj Mario Rivera)
Pinseri (Bluecheese mix)
Amatevi (Buddha-Bar version)
Prèsence (Ethnosphere version)
Orbi Terrarum (DJ Rocca deep mix)
Ciavula (radio version)
Viaggi (Dj Tonj Acquaviva remix)
Spiranza
Inchiuvatu was formed on Holy Friday 1995, in the ‘Garden of Sin’
in Sciacca, Agrigento, Sicily by Michele ‘Agghiastru’ Venezi.
According to Agghiastru: “The Garden of the Sin is the place where the human tragedy is exalted
to give vent to an ephemeral art which wants to relieve human pain. The human
being lives the conflict between life & the misery of life , but he can
never defeat it. The Garden of the Sin is surrounded with images of spirits
& demons that have nothing to do with the Christian vision of Hell,
purgatory & heaven. It is the place of desolation, of doubts & vices,
of anxiety & of ephemeral pleasures; but above all The Garden of the Sin is
the place of the human being’s loss.”
There Agghiastru, who can be compared to Virgilio, Dante’s
guide, leads the visitor by the hand through the Garden which is dominated by
the enigmatic face with three legs, the so called Trinacria (an ancient symbol
of Sicily), through the dark paths of the Inchiuvatu reign, searching for the
tragic truth which is contained in him work.
Inchiuvatu was one of the earliest bands that sought to
forge a specifically Mediterranean Black Metal. Inchiuvatu created some
good quality 90s symphonic black metal with Sicilian folk influences. The
lyrics are in Sicilian & the band often utilizes a friscalettu, a traditional
sicilian flute, in many songs.
Agghiastru plays all instruments on his studio releases.
Live, he is joined by Kaos – guitar, Nadur or Frenda – bass, Thanathos –
keyboards, & Duke Daimon – on drums. On Addisiu, they are joined by
Antonella, Lisetta, Lory, & Rossella for the female vocal parts.
Inchiuvatu – Addisiu, Elegy Records – HAWK 002, 1997.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist –
Veni
Inchiuvatu
Cu Sancu a l’Occhi
Ave Matri
Addisiu
Castiu di Diu
Lu Jocu di li Spiddi
Nenia
Unia
Cristu Crastu
Quiete Morente
Lu Jaddinu di lu Piaciri
Luciferu Re
Enjoy,
NØ
Agricantus
ReplyDeleteXIliyUd3oW6eZObtV6T0ZjD7ArE2wup6uVpaclDjGjA
Inchiuvatu
BtkbHS-7aa3PRqZGCgGmAWRyOP49gUIPr4a1TByB7rY
So good. Cheers again!
ReplyDeleteThanks again, friend. Malta today & then next, on to Africa.
DeleteShould be very interesting, what with the influences of tribal & ethnic, religious & popular, Western sounds & styles.