Listen to Fonderia from Italy
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Topic: Listen to Fonderia from Italy
Posted By: avestin
Subject: Listen to Fonderia from Italy
Date Posted: October 18 2010 at 06:36
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You know those albums that seem to come out of nowhere, from bands you
know nothing about that seem to conquer you immediately with their fresh
sound, beautiful melodies or magical ambiance? Here is a band that for me, came out of nowhere. I don't even remember how I got to hear about http://www.fonderiamusic.com/ - Fonderia , but I do remember being highly impressed upon hearing their 2010 release, http://www.myspace.com/fonderia - My Grandmother's Spacesuit .  I've often mentioned in reviews that bands are varied in their sounds, approach and style being played on a particular album. With Fonderia the variety is even more pronounced when listening to the songs on the album. From cool and smooth sounding jazz patterns to dreamy pop atmosphere to ambient to rock, all these are mingled to give each song and instrumental a distinct identity. Indeed, I think that this band is crafting themselves an individual and unique sound, not without references, but certainly a refined style that does more than just blend influences. According to their website, they're a trio that started out in the 90s' as an improvisational group. They have since expanded their lineup and sound. They have released 3 albums: Fonderia (2002), re>>enter (2006) and the aforementioned album. Emanuele Bultrini - guitars Stefano Vicarelli - keyboards Federico Nespola - drums Luca Pietropaoli - trumpet Paolo Pecorelli - bass (live) Claudio Mosconi - bass (album) Listen to them http://www.fonderiamusic.com/ - here and http://www.myspace.com/fonderia - here and read more (including reviews) ../artist.asp?id=1848 - here . Here's their PA bio: 1. Fonderia was born in December 1994 as a band devoted to improvise and mix sounds and styles. Members are Emanuele Bultrini (guitars), Stefano Vicarelli (piano, organ, synths), Federico Nespola (drums), and Luca Pietropaoli (trumpet). Through the years the band gradually extended its sound, exploring musical landscapes that span from jazz-rock to ambient, from world music to funk, by means of improvisation. All these musical experiments were recorded in several demos that had very good reviews on several Italian magazines. In December 2002 the first album by Fonderia, "Fonderia" was released, after more than one year work, obtaining very good response from Italian radios ad magazines, and awarded with the Darwin Award in April 2004, as the best Italian record of 2003. Since September 2004 the album is distributed worldwide by BTF (www.btf.it) The group often collaborates with other artists such as Rodolfo Maltese (guitar player from Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso), Punch & Judy, Slow Motion. Since 2003 bass player Claudio Mosconi joined Fonderia on most concerts. The band also experimented interaction with other arts: poetry in the project "I racconti della Fonderia" (Tales from Fonderia), with lyrics by Nicola Bultrini, videos by Virginia Eleuteri Serpieri. They worked on soundtracks for short movies ("Tra cinque secondi fa", 2000, by Alessandro Mistichelli), and composed music for silent movies, gaining international awards at the festivals Rimusicazioni 2001 (for the original music on "Charcuterie mecanique", by the Lumiere brothers), and Strade Del Cinema 2003 - International Festival of live music for Silent Movies (First Prize for the music on "My wife's relations" by Buster Keaton); the soundtrack was published in the cd compilation "Notes on Frame" (Strade Del Cinema, 2003). Further, Fonderia composed music for theatre, and for documentaries by Italian National Television (RAI), collaborating also with Baffo Banfi (from the 70's Italian band Biglietto per l'Inferno). Concerts were held around Italy, often with the performances of painting improvisation by painters Francesco Nespola and Francesco Parruzza. In 2004 the band partecipated to Arezzo Wave, the main Italian rock festival. 2. The self-titled debut album by Fonderia is a mix of several sounds and influences both from 70's music and intruments (such as Rhodes, Hammond, MiniMoog) and contemporary trends (electronic, world music). Improvisation is the source of inspiration for 10 tracks that explore different musical atmosphere with a personal approach. 3. I would say "reccomended", but it wouldn't be fair, as I'm a band member... Anyway Fonderia's record was higly reccomended by the magazines: Rockerilla (Italy), Il Mucchio Selvaggio (Italy), La Stampa (Italy), Rockit (Italy), Liberazione (Italy), Wonderous Stories (Italy), Movimentiprog (Italy), Paperlate (Italy), Prog-Résiste (Belgium), Progressive Newsletter (Germany), Nucleus (Argentina), Rocklab (Italy), RottersClub (Italy), Novamuzique (Italy), DNAmusic (Italy), Mescalina (Italy), 21st Century Music (Italy). And here are two reviews for their latest album: ../Collaborators.asp?id=18649 - toroddfuglesteg SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Interview Editor 
Listening to this album is like purchasing a 16 meters long times 2 meters high
painting....... and then installing it in a narrow hallway. It is next to impossible to get a full
overview over this painting...... and this album. This album has most everything from the archives of ProgArchives. From avant-garde, zeuhl, prog metal, symphonic prog, RPI, rock and pop. It is almost like listening to one of these compilation CDs you get when you buy a music magazine. For example Classic Rock Presents Prog. But even their compilation CDs is not that varied as the My Grandmother's Space Suit album by Fonderia. I am almost lost for words. It is pretty pointless describing the music here any further. Those two thousand words will frustrate both me and the reader. But the basis in this Italian Stew is jazz. That is the only red thread that run through this album. Jazz and the need to explore every possible avenues. Which sometimes leads this album astray and into dead end avenues. The problem for me, as now a pretty frustrated listener, is that whatever Fonderia does, they pulls it off. Every song here is good to great. Sometimes with a narrow margin. Their playful approach to everything they tries out is very refreshing and dare I say it...... progressive ! That's what this album is. A true progressive album, but in the vein of Picchio Dal Pozzo and the bands who once populated the Canterbury Scene. And this is another thing I have noticed; Fonderia is in fact the true children of this scene, either they like it or not. Quality wise, this album is great with a very long shelf life. This review is based on fourteen listening sessions. Yes, that is 14 times listening to this album. And I am afraid this album require at least fifteen x times before it make any sense. Well, kind of sense. It is an album that grows and ferments over a period of time. In my case, probably forty years or so. Fellow inhabitants of Glenview retirement home; beware. But I guess they would not protest when the brilliant laid back jazz tune Istanbul is blaring through the speakers. This is the best song of this album and it proves that Fonderia is a band which should be followed with great interest in the future. This is an excellent album which will both puzzle and please those who dares seeking it's company. Seldom has the band name been more appropriate. 4 stars
../Collaborators.asp?id=378 - Cesar Inca
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
"My Grandmother's Space Suit" is, in itself, the answer to the question "how will Fonderia
create a new repertoire of creative works after the delivery of magnificent sounds and
moods in their previous album "Re>>enter"?". Well, they did so by reformulating their
modern jazz framework. This album is a novelty in various aspects for Fonderia, one of
them being the inclusion of two (not just one) sung tracks: 'Loaded Gun' (with lyrics based
on a couple of poems by Emily Dickinson) and 'I Can't Believe This Is Just a Pop(e) Song'
(a real musical parody featuring Belgian guitarist-singer Emmanuel Luis). 'Moebius Onion
Rings' opens up the album on a melancholic note, bearing abundant shades of sonic
warmth and introspective flairs (due mostly to the dynamics that Vicarelli creates at his
electric piano). Even when the pace gets faster, the eerie melancholy prevails all the way
through. This exercise on serene jazzy ambiences contrasts the robust exoticism
of 'Istambul', one of the highlights in the album: its combination of fusion and acid-jazz
owes much of its success to the exciting alternations of Bultrini and Pietropaoli's tasteful
solos (actually, this is one of the most consistent musical strategies in the band's
repertoire) for the development of the basic compositional subject. 'Loaded Gun' features
guest vocalist Barbara Erame: relaxed in a tense way, atmospheric yet adorned with
pertinente moments of density, this piece states some sort of mixture of 90s Gabriel and
00s Bjork: at least, this is how I can describe it. Eramo delivers the emotions
beautifully. 'Gravity Wave' establishes yet another moment of vibrant modernity with its
combination of trance and nu-jazz: this is really a piece that could feed a multitude's groove
on a dance floor. 'Liquid', on the other hand, bears a majestic sort of progressive
musicality, somewhat related to the band's second album. The synth solo in the middle
section and the acoustic guitar arpeggios that go meandering in and out are my fave
elements in this track. And so we get to 'A Billion Electric Sheep' (a tribute to Philip K. Dick's
novel "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?", I presume) is an exercise on un-jazz
wrapped up in psychedelic wool (a-la Ozric Tentacles) and electronic satin (early 80s
Kraftwerk). 'Gojira' continues in this electronica-friendly trend Albert with a rockier punch,
which certainly helps the band to properly exploit the track's essential dynamics, mostly
sustained on the rhythm duo's funky groove. There is an ethereal spacey interlude that
adds an interesting variation before the return of the original drive for the closing part. With
the 'I Can't Believe This Is Just a Pop(e) Song', Fonderia an guest Louis indulge in a Zappa-
esque sort of pop parody (in the mould of "Zoot Allures" or "Joe's Garage", I guess). But
let's not forget that this band is constantly experimental, and the use of Frippian guitar tricks
in this song makes it no exception at all. The album's last track is 'Doctor's Hill', a piece
that shares much of the intimate introspectiveness of the opener during its first 3 ˝
minutes; the remaining part shifts toward a powerful climax. This end is tremendously
colorful, which makes the album's conclusion an exciting experience. More exciting it is, of
course, listening to the whole album many times in order to enjoy it more thoroughly with
each listen: after all, this is a Fonderia album, which a guarantee of great quality eclectic
jazz-rock. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Replies:
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: October 18 2010 at 08:18
| Very good stuff, Assaf, thanks for bringing this to my attention. |
Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Date Posted: October 18 2010 at 08:53
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An interview with Fonderia is http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=70639 - here and the band is one of the main reasons I am starting to wonder if today's Italian scene is better than the Italian scene from the 1970s. I am discovering new great albums every month from this scene. Fonderia is one of the five best Italian bands at the moment. |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: October 18 2010 at 14:28
De rien, Alex  Thanks for the link Torod, I was not aware of the interview, shame on me. ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: October 25 2010 at 21:13
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Bump for more people to discover ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Todd
Date Posted: November 03 2010 at 22:02
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Yes! Great band! Every album a bit different. Lots of wonderful music to explore. ------------- "I have seen the broken sky turn blue." http://gnosis2000.net/ratertodd.shtml" rel="nofollow - My Gnosis Ratings |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: November 04 2010 at 06:33
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Here's a short video about the making of the album: ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Date Posted: November 04 2010 at 08:25
| I recently acquired their first two albums and I am looking forward to give them a listen.... sometimes next year, I fear. |
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: November 04 2010 at 08:57
I got them as well, just recently. Both as good, if not better, but different somewhat. This is a very talented bunch! ------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
toroddfuglesteg wrote:Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: November 04 2010 at 11:00
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I'm really looking forward to eventually giving these guys a listen. As I've said in another thread though, just gotta hunt down a place with affordable cd + shipping ... or eventually settle for iTunes. XD
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