AKTUALA

Aktuala recorded 3 albums in the 70's on Bla Bla Records,a label who released only a dozen of records between 1972 and 1976 (the first 5 albums of Franco Battiato, Osage Tribe's "Arrow Head", Capsicum Red's "Appunti per un idea fissa" and J. Camisasca's "La finestra dentro" along with Aktuala's same titled debut (1973), "La terra" (1974) &"Tappeto Volante" (1976).Their first album ("Aktuala") is IMHO the first example of world music, at least for the italian scene. It is a real hidden gem,a masterpiece of ethnic progressive music and one of the most underrated italian albums ever, or better it is not only underrated but totally unknown to non-italian audience. Maybe due to its complexity and experimental vein, and because it has been reissued only once (in 1993) and it's now out of stock. Well, for me "Aktuala" is the italian answer to Third Ear Band. In this album you can hear a lot of different musical influences : avant-garde folk, mediterranean blues ,jazz improvisation, minimalism,african percussions,indian ragas all played with a true psychedelic feeling. The album was recorded in a few days in a totally acoustic dimension and the line-up seems to be a quintet of contemporary music more than a progrock group (although this music is "progressive" in all the meanings of the word). The mergence of all these styles and the cleverness and the deep inspiration of the musicians managed to create a new kind of musical art, something located between Morocco and India,Sicily and Turkey,Balkans and Persia. The wide array of musical instruments used during the recording sessions of "Aktuala" is simply striking. This is the line-up instrumentation :

Walter Maioli : (arabic oboe, bamboo flute, bass flute, piccolo, metalflute in C, harmonica, reeds, whistles, djembe, percussion)

Daniele Cavallanti : (soprano sax, tenor sax, clarin)

Antonio Cerantola : (6 stings acoustic guitar, 12 stings acoustic guitar, balalaika, zither, dulcimer, viola, violin)

Lino "Capra" Vaccina (maroccan bongos, koborò, african drums, tabla, gong, xilophone, whistles, cymbals, musical bow, marimba, percussion)

Laura Maioli (tambura, percussion, whistles)

Walter Maioli was Aktuala's leader.He founded in 1972 a musical commune of lovers of ethnical music.His aim was the recovery of the spirit of an universal popular music, utilizing the experiences of all people in the world but without the mediation of the classical culture. Aktuala played an instinctive and primordial music in which is easy to catch tonal influences of Mediterranean, African and Middle Mastern folklore. The atmospheres are diversified, from aggressive and spasmodic to delicate and charming and the best moments , IMHO, are when flute, violin , guitar and percussion play together. Music is composed and executed with a great philological rigour and extraordinary musical fascination (even with catchy melodies). Today Walter Maioli is an expert of prehistoric music, an ethnomusicologist and one of the most appreciated italian specialists of African and Oriental musicology.

In conclusion I must admit that Aktuala's music is not for everybody. Only the braves......................

Anyway this should appeal to everyone who likes Third Ear Band ,Embryo ,Area's most experimental stuff ,Penguin Cafè Orchestra ,Clivage's "Regina Astris" ,Oregon ,Limbus 4 ,Kalacakra , Kaleidoscope (U.S.A.) , Between ,Agitation Free's "Malesch" and Popol Vuh's "Hosianna Mantra".

Music is culture : this is the real Pop Music of the year 3279.

Ciao a tutti

Federico.