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Home Is FF's Sophomore Slump

Wil | AL | 03/09/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The second album from Italian group Fiamma Fumana features much of what made their debut album 1.0 distinct and interesting, but without the same results; whereas that first disc was fun, accessible and contained infectious musical dance grooves, Home relies more on traditional folk tunes and rarely hits the highs of 1.0 in terms of accessibility.

That is not to say the album is a total bomb -- there are great tracks here, namely Balla!, Maridem, A Voi Tor Mari, and Oasis, all of which evoke the best moments of FF's unique sound. But there are duds as well.

Another problem the disc faces is that although they are a real "band" now -- with the additions of "Lady J" Lombardi on pipes and bass and Medhin Paolos on the electronica to Alberto Cottica (accordions, acoustic guitar, piano, vocals) and Fiamma (vocals) -- the sound is weaker than the first album, due mostly to the absence of fiddles and teeny sounding effects. The electronica sounds like it was created on an old Casio keyboard, like the one's you would get for Christmas when you were a kid.

The production is also lacking -- the sound is not integrated overall as on the first album and sounds like it was recorded and mixed on someone's laptop in their living room -- oh wait, it was. (Read the liner notes!) This band is so good and needs a real studio to capture their full, layered folk/dance sound.

It may sound as if I am being hard on FF but after the first album it is obvious that this is the band's sophomore slump. Hopefully the next album will put FF back where they belong -- squarely in the midsts of the thumping groove of old world rhythms and modern dance beats layered behind Fiamma's wonderfully melodic singing that welded together so nicely on 1.0.

"

Who wants to put a limit on freedom of spirit?

Tish | CA United States | 04/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is packed with spirit that cannot be constrained by a few rating stars. While the sound recording is slightly anemic, the SOUND of this group resonates in a way that gives it power and appeal beyond the production. I discovered the group at a world music fest in California (and they are indeed best heard live), but when I listen to the CD, the music tracks take me directly back to flying along the autostrada in Northern Italy, where I had a fantastic time. When I feel like smiling, soaring and gliding freely, this is the CD. The music also has such affinity to the Celtic roots of Galicia that a composer friend there first thought the dialectic songs were Galician. This CD rapidly became my favorite for travel and it always and instantly appeals to my friends, getting more requests and compliments than any other. I've given several as gifts (I keep having to come get a replacement, like now) and they compliment them even more later. So while I agree with two of the three previous reviews about the recording quality, I have to give it all the stars for the tremendous lift of spirit it brings ... after all that's what music is about, not the medium."

Powerful pipes

Karl M. | Canada | 08/10/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Fiamma Fumana is one powerful, striking group of women. These women combine modern sensiblities with the shifting and powerful sounds of traditional Italian music. Their sound can verge on an almost Galician or Asturian style of piping and whistle-playing as in Balla and on Voi Tor Mari they possess a minor-key style that sounds quite Scandinavian. The singing is brassy, moving and possessed of the same slightly off-key sound as Varttina (minus the polyphonic aspect of some of that group's singing). The electronic trickery is restrained and only enhances Fiamma Fumana's sound, rather than drowning it in electro-shlock. I would recommend this CD for someone who does not like the washed-out pap that passes for "world music" in many circles."