DE RÌDER E DE PIÀNZER

La Cantina di Ermete are a progressive folk band from Ospitaletto, a town in the province of Brescia. Their roots date back to 1977 when they started as a simple folk group proposing original compositions in Eastern Lombard dialect. Along the years the line up went through many changes and the band had a good live activity but, except for some MC demos and some sparse pieces released in compilation albums with other artists, for a long time there wasn't any official release with their own music available. In fact, "De rìder e de piànzer" (There is to laugh and to cry), is their first official album to date I'm aware of and was digitally self-released in 2021 with a line up featuring Annalisa Alborghetti (vocals, percussion, bodhran), Roberto Viesi (bass, bouzouki, percussion, mandoloncello), Sergio Minelli (guitar, vocals), Gianfranco Serra (flute, sax), Giovanna Baroni (flute), Gianni Binetti (vocals, bandoneon, piano), Lorenzo Palmoso (guitar, bouzouki, mandoloncello) and Andrea Abeni (guitar). The album in some way summarizes their career and I'm sure that fans of bands such as Malicorne will appreciate it...

The joyful opener "Follestrocca" is a crazy nursery rhyme that brings back to life childhood memories of roundabouts and witches stories while the following "Ballo in 6/4 - Preghiera delle zitelle" blends folksy dances and sarcasm giving voice to a mocking spinster's prayer. Then comes the calm, reflective ballad "Ghè 'n momènt" (There's a moment) that could recall slightly early Clannad or Pentangle with its beautiful female vocals and nostalgic mood...

The dreamy "Falìa d'istàt" is a short instrumental track for acoustic guitar and flute that precedes "Paneroni Giovanni, astronomo", an acoustic ballad inspired by the historic character of Giovanni Paneroni (1871-1950), a peculiar ice-cream man and pseudo-scientist from Rudiano, Brescia. Eccentric self-taught astronomer and flat Earth believer, he never managed to be accepted by the official scientistic world, although he tried hard...

"Salìda" conjures up spectacular mountain views and pure air to breathe while travelling on steep paths through thick Alpine woods. Then it's the turn of the evocative instrumental "Aprile" with its careless pace and spring atmosphere.

"E pense a te" is a delicate acoustic ballad that could recall Lucio Battisti and where personal thoughts and reflections unfold during a walk at dawn while the following "Mama so ulòta!" is a lively dance with strong folkloric colours. Next comes "Malmaridàda", a funny piece featuring male and female vocals and lyrics about the troubles of a poisonous marriage between a violent man and a dangerous "Dame Lombarde"...

The nocturnal "Creder ai 'nsòme" tells about foggy feelings under the moonlight and of a hope in a change for the better that comes from the dreams you have to follow to stay alive and to forget the pains of the daily routine. Then it's the turn of the funny "Ghera 'na olta 'na siura" (Once upon a time there was a lady), about a lady who used to spend a lot of time to dress and make up just to go to the village to buy vegetables...

The haunting ballad "Quan che saltàe i fòs per long" is a beautiful track whose title literally means "when jumping over the river to the long side" and refers to an idiomatic expression in Brescian dialect to define an impossible human act. Eventually, the evocative, colourful instrumental "Sentieri blu cobalto" closes the album with its relaxed, dreamy atmosphere.

On the whole, a very interesting album that deserves a try!