Annie Barbazza To Release Debut Solo Album VIVE
By: Kaitlin Milligan Jan. 30, 2020
Italian music artist Annie Barbazza is releasing her first solo album "Vive" on February 29, 2020 on Dark Companion Records. She was a young drummer in love with progressive rock when Greg Lake discovered her talent as a singer and wanted her on stage with him for the concert which would later become the posthumous "Live in Piacenza". Again Lake produced "Moonchild", the duo with pianist Max Repetti for Manticore Records where she sang many songs formerly sang by Lake with ELP and King Crimson. If these were the beginnings of Annie's career, now she is a rising star of the international Avant/Prog scene. Her friendship with John Greaves (Henry Cow, National Health) leads her to collaborate permanently live with the Welsh musician and to collaborate on his latest albums ("Piacenza" for Dark Companion and "Life Size" for Manticore).
Another one of her stable collaborations is the one with legendary writer-singer-songwriter Paul Roland with whom Annie regularly performs live as a bassist and singer and in the studio also as a drummer. Of extraordinary success both with critics and audiences is the recent collaboration with the North Sea Radio Orchestra as main vocalist in "Folly Bololey" (Dark Companion), the tribute to Robert Wyatt which triumphed at Rock In Opposition festival and at Cafe Oto in London, the cradle of new music. In studio she collaborates, among others, with Giorgio Fico Piazza and with Warm Morning Brothers, while live she performs together with artists such as Eugenio Finardi, Osanna, Robyn Hitchcock and many more, in addition to the ones afore-mentioned.
This album has a long history: Greg Lake originally wanted Annie to played all the instruments, but the record slowly turned into an all-star friends collaboration for most of them asked Annie to be part of it, from Fred Frith to John Greaves, from Lino Capra Vaccina to Daniel Lanois and Paul Roland. All tracks are original with the exception of two tracks written for her by John Greaves and Paul Roland and a cover of the splendid Blegvad / Greaves classic, "How Beautiful You Are".
Who know Annie is aware of her elusive, shy nature. By these songs she gave voice to her inner ghosts and dreams, desires and fierce creativity.
An intimate, courageous, innovative album in which the many influences and musical styles of Annie melts together. Producer Max Marchini wanted to keep as immediate as they were conceived and played, avoiding overengineerings and over arrangements. The result is a collections of songs that span over the years working on which the many sides of the sparking, incredible voice of Annie Barbazza are the main character.
The album cover is visual artist William Xerra's design. The album was recorded and produced at legendary Elfo Studios in Tavernago (Italy), in audiophile quality.
Tracklist:
01. Ys (Barbazza) 4:12
02. June (Barbazza) 3:52
03. From Too Much Love Of Living (Greaves/Swinburne) 2:39
04. Time (Barbazza) 1:25
05. Nebulæ (Barbazza) 3:00
06. Wrote Myself A Letter (Roland) 6:23
07. How Beautiful You Are (Greaves/Blegvad) 4:22
08. Lost At Sea (Barbazza) 2:35
09. Phantoms (Barbazza) 3:20
10. Tide (Barbazza ) 2:10
11. Les Ruines Du Sommeil (Barbazza) 4:10
12. Lotus Flower (Barbazza) 3:33
13. Boîte à Tisanes (Barbazza) 3:42
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Alberto Callegar at Elfo Studios, Tavernago (PC).
Produced by Max Marchini
Annie Barbazza
with
Camillo Mozzoni
Daniel Lanois
Franz Soprani
Fred Frith
Greg Lake
John Greaves
Lino Capra Vaccina
Max Marchini
Michael Tanner
Olivier Mellano
Paolo Tofani
Paul Roland
William Xerra
Annie Barbazza
Vive
Dark Companion Records
DC 013 - Limited edition first press golden gatefold mini LP CD
DCLP013 - Limited edition gimmix cover colored audiophile Vinyl and golden CD with an original artwork insert by William Xerra
first press of 500 CDs and 300 individually hand numbered vinyl
Released February 29, 2020
Videos