Album Notes

LIMITED EDITION GATEFOLD COVER (with insert: The Lost Opus of Heracleum Ipotesis)

APPROX. TITLE TRANSLATIONS:
1. Elsewhere (intro)- 2. Devi’s Dream - 3. Stone Regions - 4. Lost Voyagers - 5. Aerofolk - 6. Almanacco del giorno prima ("Almanacco del giorno dopo" was a popular tv broadcast in Italy) - 7. Electric River Raga - 8. From A Distant Season - 9. Stereostudy n.1 - 10. Fricke Out - 11. Childhood’s End/Dark Prophecy (including quotation of trad. dance La Rotta & noise outro).


BIO / NOTES / DESCRIPTION:
Born in Venice - Italy (1960); self-taught on mandolin, bass & guitar. After two cult electroacoustic albums with Gigi Masin (Wind, 1986 & The Wind Collector, 1991), various productions and collaborations, UNFOLK (rec. 1999-2005) is the first solo project by A.M. with many guests including master guitarist Alex Masi (friend from childhood), brilliant violin/flute wizard Marco Giaccaria, rhythm alchemist Bebo Baldan, Adriano Clera (one of Robert Fripp's alumni), David Mora, Gigi Masin & Ricky De Zorzi.

Direct influences: "Fricke Out" is dedicated to Florian (Popol Vuh). The noise ending of the last track was inspired by the magnificent "Metal Machine Music" Concert by Lou Reed & Zeitkratzer in Venice.
More influences: John Paul Jones’ mandolin work with Led Zep, Dave Swarbrick’s violin style, Robin Williamson, Mike Heron, Clive Palmer individually & collectively (Incredible String Band), John Renbourn, Bert Jansch & Pentangle, Indian classical music (U.Srinivas, Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi etc.), New Electronica, Early & Renaissance Music, Terry Riley & Minimalism, Joy Division, Siouxsie & The Banshees, John Cale, V.U., George Harrison, Neil Young...oh, and Marc Bolan!

"Splendid music" (JUDY DYBLE, original Fairport Convention Vocalist, from MySpace)

"...between electronics and ethno-folk suggestions...file this album in your shelf just close to steve tibbetts' releases" (MARCO PANDIN - stella*nera website)

"...Most tracks are based upon beautiful instrument combinations with mandoline, in a way like Led Zeppelin’s “Gallows Pole” was built. Melodically and in sound the mandoline layer sounds beautiful with acoustic and electric guitars, tabla, tonal keyboards and a few other string instruments... A very enjoyable, soft-hypnotic, mostly acoustic album, with a certain progressive vision"
(GERALD VAN WAES - Psych-folk & acid-folk reviews)

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: ALEX MASI'S IMPRESSIONS:
"...I really dig this album in its entirety because it manages to walk a flawless fine line between imaginary and actual ethnic music. On top of that "unfolk" retains in each track a dreamlike quality which makes for a great listening experience when, like it often happens to me, I crave detachment from the daily audio cliches we're all forcibly exposed to... Every piece has moments of magic dripping from the disc..."
(for more "unmetal" views please visit www.alexmasi.net - you can also search for all Masi & MCM releases on CD Baby!)