Nu Genea: Nuova Napoli Vinyl LP Nu Genea

“Calibrating the synths on the meridian of Vesuvius.” From the Mediterranean coastal city of Napoli comes the bonkers new synth-funked Afro-cosmic album from the Berlin-based duo Nu Genea (formerly Nu Guinea). After a string of smaller hits – including an album with Fela Kuti’s god-drummer Tony Allen in 2016, and a highly sought after disco 7″ “Amore” in 2017 – the duo, Lucio Aquilina and Massimo De Lena hit it out of the stratosphere with their new album Nuova Napoli. While the title of Album of the Year should not be thrown around lightly, this album should be on any and all lists. It’s been selling out like hot cakes, and for good reason. The album draws from the plethora of sounds that shaped Napoli’s music scene during the ’70s and ’80s, replete with boogie synth lines, female vocals, and grooving brass. Tracks like “Disco Sole” and “Ju Vulesse” sound like a blissed out Cerrone or Giorgio Moroder cut, while other tracks like “Parev’ Ajere” – a cover of “Mr. Business” by Édition Spéciale – sounding like one of the rarest library boogie joints you’d find (peep Alan Hawkshaw and Brian Bennett’s Synthesis, specifically the track “Getting It Together,” for an idea). The promo description for the album on the duo’s own label, NG Records provides an apt suggestion for best listening practices: “WARNING: We recommend listening to Nuova Napoli while walking in the alleys of Napoli’s historic center, around wet clothes hanging and street vendors on tiny three-wheelers.” 7 Tracks in all, released by NG Records. Highly recommended, don’t sleep!

• black vinyl pressing
• original release year: 2018
• music label: NG Records 2022

reviewed by Ralphy Corduroy 1/2019