"Samadhi" has to be one of the best kept secrets of the classic Italian scene. This album is sofantastic to me: it has everything I love about music. It puts melody and emotion above forcedcomplexity, the playing is very good but not excessive, and there is variety is spades. Samadhi wasthe short -lived project of some big names on the scene, described by some as a "super-group" itfeatured two members of Raccomandata Ricevuta Ritorno, one from Teoremi, one from L'Uovo Di Colombo,and one from Kaleidon. Luciano Regoli and Nanni Civitenga began the formation of Samadhi when RRRfell apart looking to take things in a completely original direction. Keyboardist Stefano Sabatiniand Aldo Bellanova were the main composers with quality lyrics created by poet Enrico Lazzareschi.The album was recorded and mixed in Torino in the fall of 1973. Fonit released this fine album in1974 and as with the fabulous Alusa Fallax, promptly chose to ignore it in favor of promoting theOsanna offshoot Uno. The band would split up shortly thereafter. The sound of Samadhi takes the "standard" Italian prog sound in some new directions, some old ones,and delivers a strange concoction that just makes me feel good. There is a bit of a happy 60s psychfeel at times, some ripping rock guitar, some jazzy excursions, and wild surprises served up with acrisp bit of "Yes Album" enthusiasm to the sound. Scented Gardens describes the album as "marvellous songwriting, veering between the classic old pop music tradition and jazzy progressiverock..happy songs with a sunny Mediterranean feel, high-pitched lead vocals, fine vocal harmonies,lots of keyboards, laced with guitars and phased drums..great arrangements for strings andbrass..even had the bassoon playing an important role..radiates friendly, human warmth and isrecommended to those who like the second Procession album." It certainly is an upliftingexperience to me with each element coming and going at just the right moment to keep thingsexciting. Stefani's outstanding keyboard work is the heart of the album to me while complementingthe flute and brass sections. Throughout is stellar drumming and joyous guitar lines perfectlylayered with the keys. There is even a big send-up of prog-funk that sounds like Nucleus foundtheir way into the studio one day. On the whole it's a good example of why I often prefer the musicof this period to today's albums which people claim sound so much better. No way. This music haswarmth and more importantly space to hear each instrument breathe on its own. There is no densewall of oppressive machine-sound to an album like Samadhi but more of an organic feel. "L'uomoStanco" starts with a sunny pop feel and a strange effect on the percussion that throws oneoff-kilter but the organ is instantly likeable. The second track "Un Milione di Anni Fa" is whereit gets very cool with this very Yes-ish guitar/drum feel and of all things a bassoon creepingaround the edges. Sabatini's instrumental "Passaggio di Via Arpino" is another highlight morphingjazzy e-piano with funky brass and some blistering guitar, chilled out with flute and handpercussions. Hell yeah! Side two starts with "Fantasia" which is a pleasant pop-prog track withgreat bass and flute, very upbeat stuff. "Silenzio" starts quite pleasantly but drifts into strangeterritory with oddly distorted sounds and otherworldy voices in one spot topped by more fine leadsfrom Civitenga. The album ends on a high note with the longest track "L'ultima Spiaggia" at over 8minutes. This is pure Symphonic beauty like only the Italians can do it with passionate vocals thatreach for the sky in a few places. The piano and bass playing are so gorgeous as they slowly windinto these mystical choired voices that crescendo to the heavens. The album will take hits from people for not sounding cohesive due to the explorative nature, otherswill diss the singer's high register pipes and still others might find the playful pop elements in afew tracks unforgivable. I find Samadhi to be absolutely rewarding and a must for anyone who enjoysearly '70s progressive and doesn't mind non-English vocals. The BTF gatefold mini-LP sleeve editionis fabulous with remastered sound and a nice booklet with photo and history. 8/10 social review comments Review Permalink
Posted Tuesday, September 30, 2008 Review this album Report (Review #184226)
È stato il frontman del gruppo italiano Lùnapop, che ha riscosso un grandissimo successo con l'album ...Squérez? (1999) vendendo oltre un milione e mezzo di copie. Nel 2002 il cantante ha annunciato ufficialmente lo scioglimento del gruppo, proseguendo con successo nella sua carriera solista e pubblicando, nel corso degli anni, sette album in studio, tre dal vivo e tre raccolte.Molti i premi ricevuti tra cui due Premi Lunezia, cinque Music Awards, un Nastro d'argento alla migliore canzone originale e un primo posto al Festivalbar.
Nell'aprile del 2000 viene pubblicato il terzo singolo Qualcosa di grande con cui vincono il Festivalbar di quell'anno. I successivi singoli Se ci sarai e Resta con me, contribuiscono al successo del disco che vende in pochi anni oltre un milione e mezzo di copie in Italia.[8] Cavalcando il successo della band, durante l'estate Cremonini diventa, insieme a Vanessa Incontrada, testimonial degli spot televisivi della TIM, accompagnati dalle note di Vorrei, altro singolo contenuto nel fortunato album ...Squèrez?.
L'album contiene 11 tracce che alternano canzoni pop dal carattere britannico (Il comico (sai che risate), Una come te, Ecco l'amore che cos'è) a intime ballate dal gusto vintage e ispirate alla migliore tradizione della musica italiana degli anni sessanta e settanta (Amor mio, I Love You, Tante belle cose, Il sole) e tracce pop rock dal testo sognante e ispirato (La nuova stella di Broadway, L'uomo che viaggia fra le stelle e Stupido a chi?).
La canzone Amor mio è parte della colonna sonora di Padroni di casa, film di Edoardo Gabriellini che verrà presentato al Festival Internazionale di Locarno come unico film italiano in concorso. Il brano, nel film è cantato e interpretato da Gianni Morandi, protagonista della pellicola insieme a Valerio Mastandrea, Elio Germano e Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.
The Bee Gees' 50th anniversary will be celebrated with a pair of retrospective packages on Nov. 3 from Reprise.
"Mythology" is a four-disc box set curated and produced by surviving Bee Gees Barry and Robin Gibb that will dedicate one disc each to the three brothers in the group, including the late Maurice Gibb, and one to their late younger brother Andy Gibb. Maurice's wife and three children chose the tracks for his disc, while Andy's daughter Peta chose the 19 songs for his section of the package.
Barry Gibb notes that the 81 selections represent "pretty much our personal favorites," and Robin and Maurice's discs will each feature solo tracks as well as Bee Gees songs. Barry's disc, meanwhile, is loaded up with hits such as "Jive Talkin'," "Stayin' Alive," "Night Fever," "Spirits (Having Flown)," "More Than a Woman" an "Tragedy." The accompanying booklet includes family photos and tributes from Elton John, Brian Wilson, Graham Nash, George Martin and Robert Stigwood, the Bee Gees' longtime manager and label boss.
Coming out the same day is "The Ultimate Bee Gees: The 50th Anniversary Collection," a more modest two-disc, 39-track set that closes with a live medley of songs the trio wrote for others -- including "Islands in the Stream," "Heartbreaker," "Guilty," "Immortality" and the theme song for "Grease." A deluxe edition of "The Ultimate Bee Gees" will come with a DVD featuring videos and TV appearances, many unreleased, from throughout the group's career. (Source: billboard.com)