Amoreamaro

There many reasons to admire singer Maria Mazzotta: for her voice, of course, so brilliant, intimate and dramatic; for her work alongside Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino; for her experimental teaming up with Albanian cellist Redi Hasa and, finally, her latest liaison with the Apulian-Malagasy accordionist and pianist Bruno Galeone. Amoreamaro (Bitter Love) is the duo's fruit, a bewitching set providing a diverse female perspective on love, displaying an array of traditional songs, folk-revival standards and self-composed pieces.

From the sprightly home-brewed stornelli to the tango-tinged traditional Abruzzo lament ‘Scura Maje’, the pair conspire to create a lush intermingling to deliver heartbreaking numbers. The self-penned ‘Nun Me Lassare’ and Rosa Balistreri's Sicilian classic ‘Rosa Canta e Cunta’ assure Mazzotta's status as a brilliant singer. On the lullaby ‘Tore Tore Tore’, Galeone's accordion and guest Bijan Chemirani adds a Balkan rhythmic feel with his zarb (drum). Domenico Modugno's dramatic ‘Lu Pisci Spada’, about swordfish, becomes a poignant metaphor for unconditional love. Elsewhere, ‘Beddha Ci Stai Luntanu’ is fervent love poetry. The duo resonate intensely on the title-track, a strong pizzica style composition, carried by accordion and tambourine with Mazzotta's voice floating over the top. A passionate album, strong in character.