Best Italian Tracks of 2015

Alessandro Grazian
“Lasciarti Scegliere”

Self-produced and financed via crowdfunding, Alessandro Grazian’s fourth album has strength in the title for a reason, and we don’t only mean that it’s an homage to Simone De Beauvoir.

“L’ Età Più Forte” is above all a showcase of this acclaimed artist’s charisma. It also demonstrates his broad inspirations within the rock spectrum. Acoustic meets electric, psychedelia meets shoegaze, noise meets dream pop, and euphoria meets drama.

Hence as a whole, “L’ Età Più Forte” is a truly kaleidoscopic journey. “Lasciarti Scegliere” is a great introduction to a great album.

Alessandro Grazian on Facebook, www.

C+C=Maxigross
“An Afternoon With Paul”

Guests of our Best of 2014, C+C=Maxigross are a collective from the region of Lessinia who combine folk with psychedelic jams, magical tales, and the best of Anglo-American inspirations.

Last year brought their second full-length album, “Fluttarn”, which again shows their love for their local land, and even draws titles from the Cimbrian language “imported to the Lessinia hills (…) in medieval times by germanic settlers.”

While you can stream the whole thing here, “An Afternoon With Paul” was the first song we heard from this record and one that sticked to us immediately. However, if it’s an homage, then to quite a different tradition – straight from Liverpool.

C+C=Maxigross on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud.

Calcutta
“Cosa mi manchi a fare”

Just before the end of the last year, Latina-based group Calcutta released their new album “Mainstream” and this title turned out almost prophetic, with singles like “Cosa mi manchi a fare” and “Frosinone” going (almost) mainstream indeed.

On this colorful record, Calcutta offer concise and accessible songwriting that can bear comparisons with sophisticated turn-of-the-century pop rock. They combine it with stories that you don’t hear on the radio too often.

And as long as they are able to maintain it, we don’t mind Calcutta going even more mainstream.

Calcutta on Facebook.

Calibro 35
“Bandits On Mars”

An absurd short movie rather than just a music clip, “Bandits On Mars” was the first single off Calibro 35’s fifth full-length record, which is filled with memorable motifs and grooves.

Titled “S.P.A.C.E.”, and available for stream here, this new album shows the band going more upbeat and, well, generally up, as they imagined Sergio Leone directing an S-F western – with Calibro 35 being signed up for the soundtrack.

It’s almost 10 years into their steady and internationally successful career, but the retro-psychedelic funk collective from Milan remain fresh, unpredictable, and utterly addictive.

Calibro 35 on Bandcamp, Twitter, Facebook, www.

Colapesce
“Le vacanze intelligenti”

Colapesce’s impressive video “Maledetti Italiani” was among the stars of our Best of 2014 series, and now the Sicilian singer-songwriter is back with a captivating new effort, “Egomostro”.

Thoughful and personal, Colapesce’s second album explores new sounds and songwriting ideas. But you’ll still recognize his very distinct style in the first seconds after you push the play button.

“Le vacanze intelligenti” is one of many outstanding tracks on “Egomostro”. It steers between a minimal acoustic songwriting and bursts of quasi-symphonic euforia, just like the whole album which is filled with strings, brass, glockenspiels, and even theremin.

Colapesce on Facebook, Tumblr.

Cristina Donà
“Il senso delle cose”

Cristina Donà’s latest album “Così Vicini” was a choice of Edda in our Best of 2014. But this great song came out as a single a bit later, accompanied by short movie directed by Giacomo Triglia.

While the clip depicts a mysterious metaphysical photo/collage ritual, “Il senso delle cose” itself seemed like an instant classic. One far from obvious, with a chorus based on a guitar riff rather than a catchy vocal phrase, and with a sudden break towards the end.

Always keeping open ears, after impressive 25 years on stage Cristina Donà keeps being both inspired and inspiring.

Cristina Donà on Facebook, www.

Emmecosta
“Thousands of Me”

Originally from Italy, the trio Emmecosta is currently based in Göteborg in Sweden and their new EP “Untied” will certainly remind you of Scandinavia’s modern approach to pop, with spacey electronic textures and hints of dark R&B.

The first single off the EP, “Thousands of Me” is driven by a downtempo beat with a looped piano, and it has a manifestly somber and aching vibe.

The mood is further brought out by the expressive voice of the singer, but it’s the brilliant use of the trombone – an instrument rarely associated with electronic music – that really hits the spot.

Emmecosta on Facebook, Soundcloud, Twitter, www.

Erio
“El’s Book”

One of the most intriguing new singers/producers in the Italian scene, Erio released his debut full-length “Für El” late last year via La Tempesta not so long after he sent his little demo to the label.

Overlapping sound layers, highly reverbed details and dubstep-y approach to rhythm, all add to Erio’s distinct atmosphere, dense yet somehow tempting. Buy his vocals are obviously what draws attention in the first place.

“El’s Book” is an impressive and quite recent single off the album. Dramatic, minimal, and overtly modern track, it also reveals his classical background through a short church organ part towards the end.

Erio on Facebook.

Godblesscomputers
“Closer”

Just one year after his debut album, Lorenzo Nada returned to amaze with a single called “Closer”, the first extract from his new record, “Plush and Safe”.

The sounds belong to the electronic nu-soul movement of which this producer is rightly considered the leading representative in the Italian scene. But with this song, the feeling became much more intimate, and the work that emerges most mature and complete.

The video, worthy of mention, enriches the experience of listening with images of a moving beauty and symbolic references, at the same time simple and pleasant in their delicacy, about loneliness and imperfection.

Godblesscomputers on Soundcloud, Facebook, Twitter, www.

Iosonouncane
“Stormi”

The moment Iosonouncane released his second album “DIE” early last year, it was quite clear he will appear in most if not all year-end lists with this catchy, yet incredibly imaginative material.

During five long years since his debut record, “La macarena su Roma”, the Buggerru-turned-Bologna artist has collected an immense number of ideas, and he conveyed them through intricate and multifaceted arrangements – and pure joy of playing.

While “DIE” is a must-listen as a whole, “Stormi” was the song we started singing along a year ago, and we have never stopped.

Iosonouncane on Facebook, Twitter, www.

M+A
“Do the Shout”

It’s not hard to understand the success gained by Michele Ducci and Alessandro Degli Angioli that brought the duo to land in the UK after a great career in Italy.

Just like M+A’s other singles, “Do the Shout” is perfect both to hear in the morning on the radio, and later use it as your secret weapon when you’ll be DJ-ing in the evening.

Yes, it’s very straightforward and pretty open about its intentions, but also one of M+A’s catchiest efforts yet. Good vibrations.

M+A on Soundcloud, Twitter, Facebook, www.

Nova Lumen
“Ambrosia”

Founded in Turin five years ago, the trio Nova Lumen has been developing their very own version of 80s-inspired synth pop on two EPs. Last year finally brought their full-length debut, “Assurdo Universo”.

One of the things Nova Lumen have special is although their inspirations might come from the dark (wave), their own music is emotionally quite balanced. At times, even uplifting.

The first single off this LP, which you can stream here, “Ambrosia” is a great example of that peculiarity with its catchy melody and an euphoric chorus. Well, they put light into the name for a reason.

Nova Lumen on Facebook, Bandcamp, Soundcloud.

Sacri Cuori
“Delone” feat. Carla Lippis

Sacri Cuori’s new album “Delone” is an excellent model of the successful mix that has featured the band for almost ten years.

Many references to the soundtracks of the 60s/70s, some inspiration from the Italian post-folk and atmosphere directly taken from the land where this band belong, the passionate Romagna.

In the new album, the singer and absolute diva Carla Lippis joins the historical formation and the marriage is certainly successful: these new songs, more than ever, are drenched in blood, romance and irony.

Sacri Cuori on Faceboook, www.

Scisma
“Musica Elementare”

It could have been one of the most surprising comebacks in the Italian scene recently. On hold since 2002, Scisma surprisingly released a new EP titled “Mr. Newman” at the end of the year, and many would admit it was worth the wait.

The first single off this 6-track album, “Musica Elementare” is also one of its highlights. It makes you pay attention immediately for its direct beat, but then steals your heart with the chanted chorus.

Hopefully it’s just a beginning of a new beginning for this acclaimed and, clearly, still very talented group.

Scisma on Facebook.

Umberto Maria Giardini
“Protestantesima”

A veteran of the Italian scene, Umberto Maria Giardini made an impressive comeback with his second full-length album after dropping the monicker Moltheni.

Released at the beginning of 2015, “Protestantesima” surprised everyone with a balanced sound that was a bit less dependent on guitars, while giving more space to keyboards and piano – and melancholy.

However, the eponymous single off the album (which you can stream here), “Protestantesima” shows him vigorous, a bit exalted, and very charismatic. Certainly one of the songs of the year.

Umberto Maria Giardini on Facebook, www.

Verdena
“Un Po’ Esageri”

Verdena are undoubtedly one of the most representative bands of the Italian alternative rock scene of the last twenty years.

Many of their songs, such as “Luna” or “Spaceman“, have become unforgettable hits of Italian music and their post-grunge mixed with psychedelia is recognized everywhere as a trademark.

“Endkadenz vol.1”, from which comes “Un po’ esageri”, is their sixth album, after sixteen years of career. And it certainly does not betray their style, direct and rough as ever.

Verdena on YouTube, Facebook, www.