Monday, 21 October 2024

Well-known Italian composer Pepe Maina, Part 1 [Canto dell'arpa, Scerizza, Winged Fever, Pagan Night]






It's likely everyone knows him well.  One of those multi-instrumentalists who plays just about everything on his releases, and quite beautifully and flawlessly too. It's instrumental and electronic keys based so you could say it leans into the new age territory. When I recently checked the discography though I was surprised to see he released dozens and dozens of albums after his auspicious 1970s start.  These never really strayed from the prog electronic style that he began with, which is a good thing, and here and there are well worth hearing, not that I've explored even the majority by this time, though I hope to go through all of them. The music was not too much diluted down by the new age simplicity spirit that took over in the post70s decades.

Another version, less complete perhaps, of his discography is listed on progarchives here.

We can start with the first two wonderful albums, the first (Song of the harp and flute) of course, marred by the ridiculous cover photo of the teeth being brushed-- like, what was he thinking?? 

I 'll post flacs for the first 2.

From that one, Spring Song:



If you haven't heard the Canto dell arpa, you can here the sumptuous beginning of it on youtube here.

From the beautiful follow up called Scerizza (cannot find meaning of that word online, someone can assist?) La Danza del Pulcini, youtubed here:



From Winged Fever, 2003, the title track, which is definitely a little new agey but beautifully arranged, alternatively on youtube here.



From Pagan Night (2010), the oddly titled Tunes from Idetunes:



This one is on youtube here for your listening pleasure. The 12 string guitar and the intro sound eerily like something by Anthony Phillips on one of his beautiful solo albums--god how I love those to death.

As long as internet archive is down I'll post youtube links as well.



5 comments:


  1. 1977 lossless [limited time]

    https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/7623e644-57a2-43fc-afa1-4487a7ef11f1

    1979 lossless [limited time]

    https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/003cfa96-e0fd-4f66-88cd-da478133861c

    winged fever, pagan night mp3

    https://www.sendspace.com/file/1jk6wu

    https://krakenfiles.com/view/jKVVm1sD8N/file.html

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  2. Hallo! Scerizza is a very small town near Lecco (Lombardia, Italy)

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  3. Thx for solving that mystery
    I knew only an italian would know

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  4. He may be well known, but I am hearing these for the first time, thanks Julian for bringing his work to my attention, my ears love it!

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  5. Hi, just a few words....about Anthony Phillips! I read your comment and I can only agree, every album of his is splendid. Have you heard the latest Private Part XII? Wonderful, there are no words to describe it. Best regards, Mario

    ReplyDelete