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The Venetian Book Of The Dead

by Unfolk :: Alessandro Monti :: Kevin Hewick

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1.
Cicatrice Del Tempo 03:38
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2.
The Radioactive Man 04:13
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3.
Black Tar Lagoon 05:47
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4.
Bedroom Discotheque 04:10
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5.
Dust To Dust 02:31
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6.
The Cover Up 03:58
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7.
Trasferibile (Esp Mix) 01:50
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8.
Early Grave 03:44
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9.
Destinazione Astrale 05:59
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10.
A Limited Edition Of One 05:05
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11.
Someone Is Always Screwing Someone 04:42
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12.
Tutte Le Cose Lasciate In Sospeso 04:11
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13.
Cancer Of The Conscience 03:22
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14.
Forgive 05:19
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15.
Natura Distorta (The Cover Up pt2) 03:38
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16.
The Wave That Speeds To Shore 10:45
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about

Un tributo alle vittime del Petrolkimiko di Porto Marghera e a tutta la mia città, Mestre: un concept album nato dal contrasto vinile come gioia della musica e vinile come tragedia degli operai nelle fabbriche della morte.
(diplodisc / stella*nera joint release original cat#: dpl002)

A collaboration between the Unfolk collective of Italy and Leicester born, Factory records alumnus Kevin Hewick.
ORIGINAL MASTERING by JON ASTLEY at Close To The Edge, Twickenham, London.

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(...) The term ‘unfolk’ is well-chosen, for here we have music with a traditional ‘unconscious’ yet a completely 21st-century execution…
[Dieshellsuit.co.uk]

(…) The album is essentially a collaboration between Italian composer and musician Alessandro Monti and English singer and lyricist Kevin Hewick (with a phalanx of other musicians brought in to flesh out the sound). Hewick, an intermittent presence on the fringes of the UK underground since the early 1980s, sings in a distinctively English, Bowie-inflected tone. His texts are long, wordy and shatteringly powerful, giving voice to the desperate, the vulnerable and the doomed (…) Monti’s music is resolutely unfussy, giving the lyrics room to work their insidious effect. At times recalling REM, at others the angular modern rock of Porcupine Tree, the songs hover ominously on currents of fuzzed-out bass and delicate mandolin. Incendiary guitar solos add to the sense of drama, while several short instrumental pieces ratchet up the tension with glitchy, sinister drones. This is a dazzling, audacious and unique piece of work.”
[The Sound Projector]

(...) The Venetian Book Of The Dead deals with the industrial disasters that occurred in vinyl factories in Venice in the Seventies and Eighties, which saw many workers and citizens die from cancer. The album also addresses the idea of vinyl as musical entertainment, as opposed to the cause of human tragedy. Two somewhat heavy concepts for the price of one; at times they make for a challenging listen, but it’s one that is ultimately rewarding (...) Musically, most of The Venetian Book Of The Dead stays within a certain set of parameters, somewhere between the post-rock meets folk of A Silver Mount Zion and the indie rock with additional electronic flourishes of Radiohead. Unfolk utilise their small collection of instruments to great effect. The majority of songs feature little more than mandolin, electric bass and some keyboard swells, though at times strings and electric guitar are thrown into the mix. Regardless of instrumentation, Unfolk always display a remarkable amount of restraint, always seeming willing to hold back where most bands would let go. This less is more approach creates a very sparse and eerie soundscape, invoking images of abandoned factories and long forgotten about machinery. Which is no doubt the idea. (...) The Venetian Book Of The Dead is a challenging record. It’s also one that challenges the listener, and engages them. It requires repeated listeners and ultimately reveals itself to be a worthwhile, rewarding piece of work.
[David Pott-Negrine]

(...) The emotional performance of Hewick gives a perfect voice to this tragedy. Like in “Bedroom Discotheque” that has Hewick in a duet with himself. This ambitious project took three years to complete, and it is in all respects a very remarkable album (...) All tracks have a sparse instrumentation, with the addition of drums in several tracks, or cello, electronics, etc., all played by others. But at the same time a rich and full spectrum is reached, due to the nice arrangements and excellent recording. The instrumentals are very delicate and tastefully profiled. (...) Different atmospheres and musical worlds come together on this ‘concept’ album. New wave combined with elements from folk, protest songs and carefully designed sound scapes. And all this does not spring retro motivated feelings, evoking supposedly good old days. No, this is a very honest statement that perfectly fits in our times. I play this one over and over. Some of the melodies I cannot get out of my mind. With each listening I discover new details. This one is not to be missed, and I hope this pearl will be noticed by many. [Dolf Mulder, Vital Weekly]

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credits

released January 28, 2021

unfolk :: alessandro monti :: kevin hewick
THE VENETIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD


1 Cicatrice Del Tempo

Mandolin – Alessandro Monti, Processing – Gigi Masin


2 The Radioactive Man

Bass Guitar, Acoustic Mandolin, Synthesizer – Alessandro Monti, Drums – Bebo Baldan, Double Guitar Solo – Alex Masi, Vocals – Kevin Hewick


3 Black Tar Lagoon

Bass Guitar – Alessandro Monti, Guitar, Electronics & Live Mix – Madriema


4 Bedroom Discotheque

Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards – Riccardo De Zorzi, Bass Guitar, Acoustic Mandolin – Alessandro Monti, Cello – Jurj Luisetto, Drums – Bebo Baldan, Vocals – Kevin Hewick


5 Dust To Dust

Bass Guitar – Alessandro Monti, Laptop, Synthesizer – Gigi Masin, Live Electronics & Feedback – KAR, Guitar – Giordano G.


6 The Cover Up

Bass Guitar, Acoustic Mandolin – Alessandro Monti, Cello – Jurj Luisetto, Percussion, Arrangement – Riccardo De Zorzi, Vocals – Kevin Hewick


7 Trasferibile [Esp Mix]

Acoustic Mandolin – Alessandro Monti, Processing – Camomatic


8 Early Grave

Bass Guitar, Acoustic Mandolin, Electric Guitar – Alessandro Monti, Cello – Jurj Luisetto, Tbila, Bongos, Chimes – Paolo Vianello, Filters, Electronics – Riccardo De Zorzi, Vocals – Kevin Hewick


9 Destinazione Astrale

Bass Guitar – Alessandro Monti, Electric Guitar, Effects – Bob Brian, Random Synth Notes – Mono-Drone


10 A Limited Edition Of One

Acoustic Guitar – Riccardo De Zorzi, Bass Guitar, Electric Mandolin, Organ – Alessandro Monti, Drums – Franco Moruzzi, Guitar Solo – R. S. Duane, Vocals – Kevin Hewick


11 Someone Is Always Screwing Someone

Bass Guitar – Alessandro Monti, All Other Instruments & Arrangement – Halo XVI, Vocals – Kevin Hewick


12 Tutte Le Cose Lasciate In Sospeso

Bass Guitar – Alessandro Monti, Guitars, Electronics & Live Mix – Madriema


13 Cancer Of The Conscience

Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Acoustic & Electric Mandolin, Recorder – Alessandro Monti, Drums – Paolo Vianello, Chitarra Battente, Synthesizer – Riccardo De Zorzi, Vocals – Kevin Hewick


14 Forgive

Bass Guitar, Acoustic Mandolin, Thunder & Rain – Alessandro Monti, Acoustic Guitar, Riccardo De Zorzi, Electric Guitar intro – Alex Masi, Drums – Paolo Vianello, Electric Violin – Marco Giaccaria, Vocals – Kevin Hewick


15 Natura Distorta [The Cover Up Pt2]

Bass Guitar, Distorted Bass Guitar – Alessandro Monti, Cello – Jurj Luisetto, Tambour – Riccardo De Zorzi, Vocals – Romina Salvadori, Remix – Bob Brian


16 The Wave That Speeds To Shore

Bass Guitar, Acoustic Mandolin – Alessandro Monti, Bouzouki, Guitar Loops, Synthesizer, Drums – Bebo Baldan, Vocals – Kevin Hewick


© Alessandro Monti / SIAE 2009

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Poetry & Visions by KEVIN HEWICK
Arranged By – KEVIN HEWICK & THE UNFOLK COLLECTIVE
Produced by ALESSANDRO MONTI for Diplodisc [dpl 002]
Mastered By – JON ASTLEY at Close To The Edge, Twickenham, London

Cover Concept & Cross – Alessandro Monti
Cover Image – detail from the painting "Ecce Homo" by Paul Delvaux (1949) courtesy of Fondation Delvaux, Bruxelles

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Unfolk Venice, Italy

Alessandro Monti under the Unfolk moniker released:
"Unfolk+Live Book", "The Venetian Book Of The Dead", "spiritDzoe" (on Diplodisc), "Intuitive Maps", "File Under Oblivion", "monti" (on MP& Records), plus: "Intonarumori: Ieri ed Oggi" (on ReR Megacorp), "Miniatures 2020" (on The 62nd Gramophone Co.), "Micro Culture" (on Nuova Explora).
Unfolk was also included in The Wire Tapper CD series. ... more

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