Italian revolutionary Enzo Avitabile explores the non-liturgical religious traditions of the Italian south, in collaboration with with Polifonica Alphonsiana, Luigi Lai, Maurizio Martinotti and I Cantori del Miserere di Sessa.

Musically, this is an eye-opener. The most important elements of the record are Luigi Lai and his launeddas, (a Sardinian reed instrument, a sort of souped-up Pan's pipes), Martinotti and his ghironda (hurdy-gurdy) and the choral voices. The choruses offer the liturgical undercurrent of these songs, the launeddas and ghironda the counterpoint, with Avitabile and his saxophone covering the middle ground and uniting them all.

The accompanying text is only in Italian and rather limited. It's a pity, because this is a subject where further reading would have really enhanced the experience. So the listener, without the benefit of delving into the societal repercussions of this recording, must let the music take precedence. There are some wonderful songs here. "Nuèna nuèna" offers a combination of tambourine, launeddas and voice that creates a sound that seems both of the earth and sky. "Quanno Nascette Ninno" is a beautiful a cappella narrative, the more folkloric "È Nnato" is mesmerizing and "Miserere di Sessa" has a musical kinship with throat singing. On "Crucifixus," Avitabile goes political, talking about "the different Souths," not only in Italy but beyond the Mediterranean, to other places where poverty, bombs and pain still loom large - it is contemporary and timeless. The instruments used and the production values of this record make it sound otherworldly, while Avitabile's voice is warm, friendly, folksy, full of dignity and religious spirit.

This is an outstanding project, musically and intellectually. The prolific Avitabile has produced yet another landmark record, and the four years everyone who worked on this project spent bringing it to fruition, were worth their effort, and our wait. - Nondas Kitsos

Artist's web site: www.enzoavitabile.it

CD available from cdRoots