Ludovico Einaudi – Taranta Project

Includes Free Digital Download Code.

180 Gram Heavyweight Double Vinyl in Gatefold Sleeve.

Salento in southern Italy is famous for La Notte della Taranta festival, dedicated to the hypnotic local dance music that is said to cure tarantula spider bites. When composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi took over as director, he expanded the range to include music from North Africa and Turkey, and the result is this intriguing album in which he is joined by guitarist Justin Adams and ritti exponent Juldeh Camara from Juju and Robert Plant’s band, plus Malian kora player Ballaké Sissoko, Turkish electronics exponent Mercan Dede, and local musicians including most of the great taranta band Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino. And it works, remarkably well. There are stomping, wailing and epic songs such as Nazzu Nazzu, in which Italian trance music is given an African edge, reflective piano and ritti duets that give way to kora and percussion, and rousing harmony vocals. A colourful, highly original set.