D'AI PRIMITIVI ALL'ELETTRONICA

D'Ai Primitivi All'Elettronica was the second released by this strange Italian electronic ethno fusion act. This was by far their best known release as it actually received a reissue in 1990 on vinyl (I don't understand why it wasn't also reissued on CD at the time, but there you go). The 1990 version features computer generated artwork, likely off a Commodore Amiga (probably off the software program Deluxe Paint). The album was originally released only on a privately released cassette with totally different (much more primitive) artwork, similar to their debut. Black Sweat Records had reissued this album complete with original artwork, as they did with their debut. I've known D'ai Primitivi All'Elettronica for ages, but didn't realize they have at least two others, including one called Afghanistan that hasn't been reissued, and of course their self-entitled debut which Black Sweat kindly reissued.

On D'ai Primitivi All'Alettronica, Walter Maioli and Riccardo Sinigaglia were augmented with Gabin Debire from Burkina Faso, and a couple of tamboura players. Thanks to Gabin Debire's presence, there's frequently a strong African feel to some of the music, particularly the heavy use of marimba and kalimba. "Eco Raga", as the title suggest, has a strong Indian feel to it, complete with bansuri (Indian flute) and the droning sound of the tamboura. "Piano Synt" is, exactly as it describes, piano and synth, in fact the most Western sounding piece on the entire album. strictly improvised piano and synths, done in that wonderful '70s fashion (yet this is from 1980). "Sinkoro Kuma" is clearly the most African-sounding piece on this album complete with marimba. It's clear that Gabin Debire's presence is totally felt, but that trippiness is also totally felt. "Concrete Music - Oa.Oa" is the lengthiest piece on the album. More heavy African influences with marimba and kalimba (a thumb piano), plus exotic flute and of course synthesizer (an EMS Synthi A, so none of these new state of the art polyphonic synths here, no Prophet 5 or Oberheim OBx here). I swear I hear a bit of didgeridoo creep in as well.

This is the way I like world music to be. Nothing commercialized to "appeal to Western ears", but this would hardly appeal to the purists either. The name "Futuro Antico" is a concept in itself, "Ancient Future" (strange there's an American act called Ancient Future, but do not confuse them with this Italian act), so you get the best of both worlds: the ancient and the hi-tech. Really well worth listening to, and don't forget their debut.