Customer Reviews

La Musica Della Mafia, Vol. 2: Omerta, Onuri e Sangu

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first played this CD through, I did not like it near as much as Vol 1 Il Canto di Malavita. The song selection seemed weaker and the singers less polished than on the first compilation. So often does a follow-up to a surprise hit fail to live up to the listener's expectations, that I nearly resigned myself to putting this on the shelf and letting it collect dust.
Instead, I took a different tack and decided to listen with new ears as though I'd never heard the first volume. Once I'd done that, I found a lot about Omerta, Onuri e Sangu to enjoy.
To begin with, the music here is earthy and raw. It reminds me a lot of the folk music of many lands. I can hear strains of Greek, Spanish, Arab, and even Argentine musical influences as it plays through. My favorites are Ninna Nanna Malandrineddu, a mother's song urging her son to vengeance; Tira La Pinna, the mournful gypsy-influenced song of a condemned man; A Casanza, a rollicking guitar-driven tarantella that relates the story of a prison power struggle; La Me Galera, the story of a wrongfully imprisoned man that has an Argentine feel to the music; and Si Gira e Si Revolta, the melancholy story of a man rotting in his cell and yearning for freedom.
About the only negative here is that there are too many short pieces and "parlati" which clutter up the CD and give one the impression it is longer than it is.
If you liked Il Canto di Malavita, then come to this with an open mind and give it a chance, too. If you have heard neither "Il Canto..." nor this CD, then buy them both and try to listen without comparing them. You will be glad you did.

Beeing a sicilian and an ethnomusicologist I can say that the music recorded on this cd is of a QUALITATIVE LEVEL and REPERTORY which ARE EXCEPTIONAL,I decisevly though don't like the terrible stereotype of the image of Sicily only connected with the criminal world,there is a lot of more interesting and beautifull things to focus on in this land than the mafia.
For example what about the mafia in China,Japan,Russia,Albania,or even...the USA!
I really don't agree with the TITLE of this cd,the connection of these wonderfull sounds with such a terrible criminal stereotype is highly harming,in fact,the sicilian culture as well...
Lisen to the music...and please forget that Sicily is ONLY mafia,it'not true...and it's not any badder than many other"civilised"places in the world.

A great album featuring traditional murderous music from the Calabria portion of Italy. Wonderful singing and great beats and music.

Estupenda segunda parte de la serie de recopilaciones de la "musica della malavita". Música densa, intensa y paradójica.

This CD is Vol. two of: La Musica della Mafia: Il Canto di Malavita, any collector of Mafia related items will find this a welcome addition to their collection. This paticular CD I believe stands on it's own, along side the first volume and is as good as that volume. As noted in my review of the previous CD, this music is best enjoyed with a fine wine, a traditional dinner, and candlelight. It is beautiful music and sets a wonderful mood.