Banda Maje - Costa Sud (Four Flies) [Disco]
- The Slow Music Movement
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Despite not being as lauded as other European countries, Italy has a good history of soul, jazz, funk and disco endeavour, with Naples in particular giving Disco a unique, decidedly sunny, arguably kitsch at times, local twist with a hint of Brazilian sweetness thrown in for good measure. Banda Maje - a member-rotating outfit, led by composer and keyboard player Peppe Maiellano and local producer, rapper and DJ Tonico Settanao, are based in Salerno, just down the E45 from Naples, and it appears the city's 70s and 80s musical legacy left quite the impression on them.
The album starts with "Costa Sud", its title track, and boy is the scene set: hip-moving funktification, throwback fusion synths, horn infusions and solar-powered vocal refrains paint an evocative picture of this sun-backed coastline. "Baia" keeps the disco ball rolling with the same irrestible elements but more of a samba soul vibe - think Marcos Valle's "Estrelar" given an Afro-rhythmic twist and an energy drink or two, and you're about there.
And so we continue. Schmaltzy disco soul courtesy of "Mo...", the vintage Italian soundtrack meets bossa-soaked jazz of "Jet Lag", eighties soul jazz fusion with a hand-played percussive twist on "Samba Maje", the decidedly Balearic disco vibes of "Africana", which surely would have been a Baldelli fave back in the day and has been gracing TSMM's Slow Balearic disco for a while now, cosmic synths meet smooth soul jazz courtesy of "Black Glamour Girl and rounded off nicely with a perky bossa album finale, the aptly titled "Lovebossa ('Ncopp 'e Nuvole)".
The album is a vivid trip down Southern Italian musical memory lane, and a spirit lifting, cloud parting summer soundtrack.
Playlist Companion
Find Banda Maje in the Slow Grooves Playlist.