Label: NG Records (5) – NG01 | Year: 2018 (Album)| Discogs: Nu Guinea – Nuova Napoli
It is perhaps unsurprising that a self confessed Italophile such as myself has opted for an album that is heavily steeped in the traditions of the criminally overlooked Neapolitan funk scene of the 1970s and ‘80s.
Released nearly two years after their well received The Tony Allen Experiments, Nuova Napoli sees Lucio Aquilina and Massimo Di Lena (Nu Guinea) pay tribute to, and put a contemporary spin on, the distinctive fusion of Jazz-Funk, Disco, Boogie and Afro that dominated the Neapolitan club scene of yesteryear. The record breezes with effortless ease through these various sounds, ranging from the sleazy, tripped out, funk of the title track to more cosmic-y sounds found on tracks such as ‘Je Voulesse.’ The production on the record is top notch – aided in no small part by the duo’s recruitment of many of the top musicians currently plying their trade in Naples. Those such as Pietro Santangelo (whose sultry sax playing is a particular highlight throughout the album), add a vibrancy and character that really colours Aquilina & Di Lena’s compositions. Ultimately, this means the record moves beyond a simple ‘pasticcio’ of the 1970s & 80s Neapolitan dance scene – and instead deservedly takes its place alongside the great records that so heavily influenced it.
It's Good For The Soul 