condition (record/cover): EX / VG+ (creasing and light wear)
With original innersleeve.
After selling more than half a million records in the two-year period between 1982 and 1983, with the albums "Teresa De Sio" and "Tre," marked by a splendid blend of Neapolitan song and jazz fusion sounds, the artist decided to change things up. Likely advised by Maria Laura Giulietti, music critic and her producer, De Sio diluted the jazz component and embraced the glacial sounds of the nascent digital music, based on the astute principle of not lingering too long in the same garden, even when the result is particularly successful. The bestsellers of 1982 and 1983 were indeed full of electronic keyboards, but all strictly analog (Rhodes, Prophet 5, OB8, CS80), and the only digital presence was provided by the Linn drum machine, used with caution. The equipment was completely revamped for "Africana," with the addition of DX7s, AMSs, Casio CZ-101s, and no less than three drum machines. A nightmare for those who detest the open, reverberating sounds typical of new wave and '80s pop-rock; a neutral notion for those who judge based on the use and not the medium. Undoubtedly, "Africana" has a much colder tone than De Sio's previous albums, but the attraction to the intricate arrangements and production remains unchanged, as does the warmth of her vocal performances. The result is a play of contrasts between aseptic digital and warmer elements (not just the voice, but also the incursions of acoustic instruments and the remnants of fusion forays, placed in the right places), which effectively provides a further facet to the universe of a visionary artist. Venturing into a territory outside of her natural environment may seem risky, but it demonstrates the health of an inspiration that, had she given up, would have been limited to a third consecutive album in the same style. A decidedly un-De Sio approach. Unfortunately, the turning point was not understood by the general public and the album failed to enter the top 20, marking a regression in popularity that would never be reversed.