“Cuando llega el calor, los chicos se enamoran, es Nu Genea y el sol” could perfectly reflect the festive spirit of the Neapolitan band formed by Lucio Aquilina and Massimo Di Lena.
The undeniable summery, coastal vibe, a hallmark of their sound, permeates all their previous discography, as well as their recent album People of the Moon. However, if in the past their funk and afrobeat creations didn’t venture beyond the North African and Southern European coasts, as in their acclaimed LP Bar Mediterraneo (2022), we now witness a shift towards the South Atlantic; specifically, towards Brazilian territory.
It’s not that they’ve turned their back on their unmistakable Mediterranean signature. Proof of this is the prominence of Spanish artist María José Llergo in this work, who opens the repertoire with “Acelera,” a funkmenco groove with undeniable Andalusian roots. Nevertheless, compositions like “Sciallà” (performed in Italian, but more Brazilian than Christ the Redeemer) or the closing track, “Ondas do Mar,” featuring the voice of Brazilian percussionist Gabriel Pardo, reaffirm this new direction in their sound.
This fourth LP from the Italian duo (their second after transitioning from Nu Guinea to Nu Genea) solidifies them as an uninhibited project. A group that continues its expansion into world music, unhurriedly embracing that dolce far niente from the warmth of Southern Europe.