Federico Poggipollini
Via Zamboni 59

November - December 2009

Sometimes the unthinkable happens, in life as in music; we find ourselves in improbable situations and listenings that come for reasons unknown, and like a comet, they pass through our sky for only a few moments. Albums without pretensions, but which touch precisely that state of mind we find ourselves in, striking the right chords, at the right time, in the right way. For a month or perhaps a little more, this album was the most faithful companion of my sleepless nights, amidst doubts, anxieties, phobias, and looming exams. It entered my life almost by chance, carving out a special place among my listenings.

Federico Poggipollini

Italian guitarist and songwriter born in Bologna on March 26, 1968. I very much appreciated him during his Litfiba period (from '90 to '93), much less so for the rest of his career alongside Luciano Ligabue, someone I've never liked and never will. His solo debut dates back to 1998, with the album I'm about to discuss, followed in 2003 by "Nella fretta dimentico" and the recent "Caos cosmico" of 2009.

"Via Zamboni 59"

The title is an homage to the author's hometown; for those who don't know, it's a famous street in Bologna (the city where I currently reside), located in the university area. Heavy Bolognese accent, simple, intimate lyrics, guitar that is at times acoustic and at times blues: these form the basis of this work.

"Insomma vorrei": "But how does my life flow, I ask myself every day, and when the evening comes I get upset with myself, the day's already over, and I haven't accomplished anything yet" ..

"Voglio il paradiso": "I'm chasing your life, and I always circle around it, while imagining your face shining like a star, I stay awake until I see you again"

"Due": "For nights I've walked the city, and the fog that envelops me disperses, but the rain that falls wets my face"

"Piccola": "Piccola has two black-blue eyes, looks at the hill, looks down, and asks me what's wrong, piccola from above the city, a thousand lights in the darkness, we breathe the wind that's there"

"L'angolo dei sogni": "I never sleep and spend another night closed in a corner chasing an idea"

These snippets of text help convey my therapeutic interest in this album. Yes, I am a CHRONIC INSOMNIAC, romantic, nostalgic, and a dreamer. Musically, I also consider them the best episodes, a pleasant singer-songwriter style accompanied by good guitar work. The rest of the album offers semi-acoustic tracks ("Maela", "Una ferita da guarire" and "Verso oriente"), pop rock ("Uscite fuori" and "Come il vento") and an instrumental track ("KKF").

Federico was not well when he wrote this album: he was depressed, doubtful, living more by night than by day, love was elusive and unfinished, life apathetic and listless. No, I am not a friend of Poggipollini, but through this album, I have come to know and understand him: it is indeed true that something good always arises from suffering.

And from that day on, we became friends.. thank you, Fede, I am well now.. and you?