BREVISTELE

My esteemed colleague finnforest responded to my deep felt appreciation for the masterful Gian Castello album Taliesin by suggesting another Italian prog folk outfit called Bededeum. I have been very serene in my hunt and my recent trip to Budapest Hungary has finally succeeded in finding the debut Bededeum disc, proving that patience is a definite prog virtue. A great amount of trepidation met my initial run through, as finn was essentially lauding the follow up 2007 album and who knows whether this was an equal masterpiece. Obviously, one needs to approach this from a folk angle and truly enjoy instruments such as mandolin, violin, balalaika, uillean pipes, bouzouki and flutes. The sheer versatility of Italy's musical tradition comes shining through (remembering that the bagpipe was a Roman instrument before it landed on the British Isles, brought by the wandering Celts). Hence, this eclectic consortium of 9 folk musicians are a truly inspired group of performing artists who include theater, costumes and medieval presentations added to their craft. There is also a keen disposition towards embedding the proceedings with some genial male and female vocals both in solo and chorus formations, best exemplified by the ultra- Celtic opener "Cuncti Simus Concanentes" that once and for all proves the folk inspiration for such illustrious pieces as Carmina Burana and the entire voiced aspects of zeuhl, as expressed by Magma or the brilliant Universal Totem Orchestra. This crossblending always emanates from some sprightly source, generally expunged from deep and eternal popular roots that go back centuries, giving depth and history to modern techniques and instrumentation. The majestic "La Ruota" harkens back to a pre-synthesized time when musical knowledge was par for the course, the flutes here twirling in a completely medieval expanse, garnering inspiration from ancient traditions and folklore. I guess you can call this reverse progressive as it rears back to a time when things where different, life a somewhat meaningless existence that struggled to survive plague, endless war and injustice. Music was then the only "divertissement". Much like the wandering minstrels, raconteurs and troubadours, these bards trek onwards into English tradition "Foggy Dew", one of the few traditional songs they chose to revisit. Yet most of their material is written by the band which is ultimately an even greater and more laudable endeavor, especially in view of a current musical world that has totally lost its composure and raison d'être (I mean Lady Gaga, really!!!!!). To prove the point, there is a revival of medieval-tinged music lately with acts such as Blackmore's Night, Shine Dion, Vital Duo, Iona and the Decemberists. The deeply spiritual and spirited compositions continuously flow, always searching for new thrills, occasionally singing and even narrating, never boring or sedate. The percussion work is particularly dense, weaving inquisitively into the whistles, pipes, flutes and mandolins, lots of hand drums flailing way with utter confidence. This must be one heck of a live experience to witness, a temporal voyage back in time, to a dark place where music was often the only "light"! Magnificent 3- minute pieces such as the vivacious "Tress", the divine "Il Sogno di Senta", the lively "Saltarello" and the languorous "L'Attesa" keep the listener firmly focused on some distant fortification where velvet clad damsels with spired hat veils await their shining knight. "Ombra" gets a little epic at almost 6 minutes, with majestic vocals from Micaela Guerra showcase flutes flirting with the bagpipe-led melody. The remaining pieces just further consolidate the deep introspective impressions that emanate from the grooves. Perfect chill music on a lazy Sunday morning, contemplating a bygone era when music was, er?..musical.

I was warned and I am now blessed to include this in my collection. Time to hunt down the follow up 2007 alleged masterpiece, cost is not an issue. Grazie finnforest, sei un vero amico (Thanks, you are a true friend). 5 castelli