Pino Daniele
Mascalzone latino

The late '80s marked a significant turning point for Pino Daniele. The following decade would greatly expand his audience, drawing in even younger listeners who would be satisfied with simpler and more direct tunes.

"Mascalzone latino" is a testament to Pino's mastery of the classical guitar, his exuberant Neapolitan energy and his romantic ballads. This latter category of songs, a style developed in the mid-80s, unites the tracks with distinct styles of guitar phrasing, pace, arrangements, vocal approach—all aimed at creating a recognizable atmosphere, particularly in two tracks from this album: "Carte e cartuscelle" and "Ammore scumbinato". These are the songs from the Pino who had recently surprised us with "Qualcosa arriverà" (soundtrack of the film "Le vie del Signore sono finite") and from the Pino who, in the '90s, would produce more moving pieces.

However, as we mentioned, "Mascalzone latino" is also a gritty album (a fun fact: it gives its name and logo to the well-known boat in national sailing races). First and foremost, "Faccia gialla", "'A speranza è semp' sola", and "Giungla" deserve mention: groove-filled tracks that contrast with the Mediterranean flavor of the classical guitar riffs. This album entirely replaces the electric guitar with the classical one. Pino's vocal performances on this album are outstanding, with strengths ranging from broad dynamics to deeply heartfelt interpretation. In the opening track "Anna verrà," his voice manages to be fierce, at some points almost aggressive, even though the track is essentially a ballad (dedicated to Anna Magnani). The electric bass in the song that would become the most remembered on the album, and which would see a reinterpretation in the 1998 compilation "Yes I know my way," is noteworthy. The atmosphere of "N'ata stagione" evokes the landscapes of those southern Italian archipelagos where the way of life remains as it once was. Islands where the sea, warmed by a relentless sun, is the essence of these corners of paradise. "'O 'mericano" is dedicated to the many American soldiers whose families have made Naples and its province their second homeland. "Aria strana" does not deny the character of the "mascalzone latino" with its southern style, which should not be confused with the music from other regions; when talking about Pino Daniele, it’s clear we're referring to the music of Vesuvius. Delightful (even in its title and finale) is "Sambaccussì". It's a love song that, as always, the Maestro manages to present in a way completely different from the conventions of the rest of the musical landscape.

Pino's music is always an expression of a vivid personality, always critical, familiar with the pleasures of life but also its obstacles and sorrows. With music, there’s the ambition for a life that appreciates all the beauty the world offers, a life devoted to shaping daily events so they take on the form and color that suit each individual.

Not forgetting the necessary aesthetic sense to grasp from life all that makes it unique.