Carlo Fontana - La Musica Del Sud (Selected Works From 1979 to 1988) (2024)

For their next release, Futuribile looks to the work of Salerno star Carlo Fontana, presenting a set of hard-to-find & unreleased treasures titled ‘La Musica Del Sud.’ Carefully remastered at the West Hill Studio, the collection of tracks — which features contributing arrangements from Tullio De Piscopo — forms a moody pop funk paradise, with jazz horns and soul brass layered together, and amorous vocals crooning, supported by lush harmonizations and greasy gliding bass. Disco beats and exotic drums dance, prismatic pads and soft synths seek the stars, piano and guitar sing a spaced out blues, and amidst the moving grooves and deep swinging jams, moments of beauteous balladry emerge to touch the spirit. Carlo Fontana's work is further testimony to a courtly and sophisticated musical aesthetic in vogue in Naples (and surrounding areas) between the 70s and 80s which had as its main proponents and protagonists exceptional musicians such as Joe Amoruso, Tony Esposito, Pino Daniele, Elio D'Anna, Enzo Cervo and many others. (Words by Braden Balentine)