Spaccanapoli

The area of Naples called Spaccanapoli no longer exists. It was dangerous, but it had life. Now it's become a gentrified shopping area. But the name lives on. Spaccnapoli, the five-piece Neopolitan band who have just released Lost Souls (RealWorld), haven't gone upscale.

"We deeply believe in the power of music and in our little space we try to make music that puts questions in peoples' minds," explained violinist Antonio Fraioli.

They came together a year ago, following a split of the famous revolutionary musical collective Grupo Operaio E Zezi, organized by workers at the Alfa Romeo factory in Naples.

"There'd been some conflict in the group," Fraioli said, "and we decided it was better not to spend so much time together."

"We deeply believe in the power of music and in our little space we try to make music that puts questions in peoples' minds."

Instead, the quintet who comprise Spaccanapoli decided to take their own approach to political music, which remains very roots-oriented, even singing in the local dialect, as on songs like "Sant' Anastasia." It seemed natural, Fraioli said, because "we were all born in Naples, and we live here. It's important to stay true to the region, to our language and our culture. It's important to understand our roots."

While they do make very limited use of samplers, "we like an acoustic sound because it suits our style." A major component of that style is the regional tradition of the tarantella, whose history "is one of the most important expressions of our cultural tradition," Fraioli noted. "The tarantella is an ancient, wild possession dance. It's still alive, but it's not like it was 100 years ago."

On "Pummarola Black" Spcaacnapoli return it to glory, and make it a vital piece of today's political struggle. And in their love songs they revive the sensual tammurriata, originally a dance for couples where "the dancers beat out the rhythm with castanets - the left hand for the female, the right hand for the male," observed Fraioli," showing the equality of relationships."

With their album now out, Spaccanapoli have begun touring in Europe, and spreading their message of music for the people, by the people.

"Music is one of the best ways to tell people about social and political problems," Fraioli said. "And the future, the global village, is made up of lots of different musics, we think. Including ours."

This article first appeared on Sonicnet.com

Spaccanapoli

"We deeply believe in the power of music and in our little space we try to make music that puts questions in peoples' minds."

Related Articles in the 'European Artists' Category...