Fiamma Fumana

Fiamma Fumana were formed in 1999 by three people who shared a love for the musical tradition of Northern Italy in general and their native Emilia Romagna in particular, but had otherwise very diverse backgrounds.

Alberto Cottica, accordionist guitarist and pianist, has been active in the Italian folk-rock music scene, for over ten years as co-founder of the highly successful Modena City Ramblers (well over 350,000 albums sold). Marco Bertoni is an electronic musician and record producer who cooperates regularly with top-rank Italian DJs such as Santos. Fiamma Orlandi, at 22, was an absolute beginner who had been brought up musically in the Emilian countryside by her mother and grandmother. Her singing is a unique blend of traditional style and modern sensitivity.

These elements have been carefully selected and balanced: Fiamma Fumana was to be a tribute to the tradition of female vocals of Emilia and Italy in general (like the choirs of mondine, the rice gatherers who were all young girls), and that tradition was to be revitalized by a new generation and its musical culture. Hence, electronica, the most natural musical expression for Fiamma and people her age in post-industrial and affluent Italy. The result was an intriguing blend of old Italian dance tunes played to new Italian dance grooves, traditional ballads and state-of-the art electronica. —Courtesy Calabash Music