Nostalgia

Progressive Rock Band

A Mellow Records Band...
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The group "Nostalgia" was formed officially towards the end of 1992 by Massimo Mazzeo who involved Andrea Romano in his project. While coming from different musical backgrounds, they came to know each other during the last three years of High School which they spent together (from 16-18). Massimo used to listen mostly to Progressive and Canterbury sound (Genesis, Camel, Caravan, Hatfield and the North, Wyatt etc.) and his first experience projects him towards playing a type of music similar to English Folk and American West Coast thanks to his passion for the acoustic guitar. Andrea prefers rock (Camel, Al di Meola , Van Halen, Santana) and his first musical experience is more orientated towards hard rock because of his passion for the electric guitar. Their mutual interest in the Camel leads to their first musical experience together in 1982 with the group Odeon. Their sound is typical of the group Latimer & Co. Andrea plays electric guitar and Massimo is on vocals and percussion. After brief but intense activity playing "live", the group breaks up. This was to be the last live appearance of Andrea to the present day.

Massimo, on the other hand, intensifies his live appearances with another two friends in the years to come, alternating their own compositions with cover versions, using three guitars and three vocals in classic West Coast Folk formations, playing gigs in the suburbs. Between 1983 and 1988, Andrea alternates between advertising jingles for the radio and studying the scales and techniques of Al di Meola until he is sick fed-up; Massimo, still unwilling to learn the notes of the pentagram, tries to deepen his knowledge of finger-picking techniques and practises pieces by Nick Drake using a great variation of cords ; and from this point on, the use of open cords becomes a quality in his musical compositions. Between 1988 and 1992, the two of them see each other at intervals. Massimo, the creative one of the duo, puts forward his ideas with the acoustic guitar ; Andrea, the technological artist, being familiar with the "midi" keyboard, arranges Massimo's sound patterns.

At the end of 1992, there is a turning point. One day in December, Mauro Moroni listens to a tape brought to him by Massimo and appreciates the creative potential. He asks Massimo if he would be able to rearrange the pieces in a more progressive, less technological key together with Andrea. (The belittlers of "Nostalgia" have a scapegoat in Mauro Moroni on whom to take out their rage ! )

No sooner said than done. Massimo starts up the group "Nostalgia" which takes up almost all of his free time, partly to escape from the serious economic crisis he finds himself in after losing his job. He and Andrea review and rearrange the various pieces that had been written previously. Massimo would play acoustic guitar (6 & 12 string), classical guitar and do vocals ; Andrea would play the guitar synthesiser and keyboard. Once the arrangements are finished, the duo record all the material between March and April 1993 under the title "Never too Late", which was quite an emblematic title considering that both of them were already 30 years old ! The lyrics written by Massimo reflect the difficult situation he was going through and together with the type of music, give their work a melancholy and depressing atmosphere. But the atmosphere created by this recording should not make you inclined to think that the name of the group was a natural consequence of their music. It was really thought up by Mazzeo who was looking for a name which could easily be understood in both English and Italian.

In actual fact, "Nostalgia" is written and pronounced in almost the same way in both languages. But it would be unjust not to reveal that the name is also a homage by Massimo to an artist and his composition for which he has a particular liking: David Sylvian's "Nostalgia" taken from the album "Brilliant Trees".

"Never too late" (Mellow MMP 158) comes out on 19th May 1993. The reviews in the German fan magazine "RSM" (Jan 94) and the Japanese magazine "Marquee" (Aug. 94) are good. In actual fact, the latter lists the duo under the letter N for "Nostalgia" when compiling their rock encyclopaedia. They are pleased to learn that they are also included in the Brazilian Leonardo Nahoum's "Enciclopedia do Rock Progressivo" and in "L'Histoire Mondiale du Rock Progressive" by Didier Gonzalez. On the other hand, the reviews by the Italian critics of "Arlequins" and "Paperlate" were lukewarm and less encouraging. The latter actually got round to publishing the review one year later ! But the Italians' predilection for northern xenomania is well known to be limitless.

From that moment, Romano and Mazzeo go their separate ways, the former returns to his quiet way of life and the latter returns to the harsh reality of being unemployed after the short-lived excitement of this experience. In spite of his difficulties, Massimo throws himself wholeheartedly into his music and composes a suite about 13 minutes long (to which Andrea adds another 4 mins making it 17 mins long) which forms the basis of the second C.D.

He starts up a musical partnership with an Australian girl who sings and plays in the street, impressed by her voice after seeing her performance by chance. Andrea's friend helps out with percussion. One Saturday afternoon in February 1994, Massimo and Stephania Bejma (the Australian singer) perform in Andrea's house before Mauro Moroni, Massimo playing acoustic guitar with Stephania singing a piece called "Above the Clouds" written by Massimo . At this point, Mauro is convinced and gives his O.K. for the production of the second C.D. So after months of work, they finish recording.

Going back to 28 th April 1994, Moroni invites "Nostalgia " to participate in a tribute to Genesis. Massimo 's and Andrea's happiness can hardly be described.

On 20th October 1994, "Is your Spirit free ?" is released (Mellow MMP 248) which contains the above-mentioned suite, two cover versions of T. Hiscock and N. Beersford (English Folk), five pieces by Massimo and two by Andrea. The main vocals are by Stephania Bejma with Marzio Marossa on the drums. After a beginning which is decidedly progressive, the C.D. changes to a folk-progressive type of music. The review which appears in the Belgian fan magazine "Prog-résiste" (Dec. 95), is very flattering but the best surprise comes from the Italian magazine "Melodie & Dissonanze" (Jan-March 95) where prominence is finally given to the work of the duo from Sanremo.

On the 9th May 1995, the tribute to Genesis "The river of constant change" (Mellow MMP 270) is released and the "Nostalgia " appear with a piece comprising both "Am I very wrong" / "A place to call my own", taken from "From Genesis to Revelation".

After the release of the second C.D. and a concert held in at Taggia in the summer of 1994, (an unusual event for "Nostalgia "), with Stephania on vocals and Massimo on guitar, Stephania says goodbye to everyone and returns to Sydney.

On the 3rd March 1995, Moroni asks Massimo if "Nostalgia " would like to participate in a tribute to V.D.G.G.. So on 22nd December 1995, "Eyewitness" (Mellow MMP279) is released and the duo participate with the piece " Out of my book" taken from the album "The least we can do is wave to each other". At this point, the duo break up again and this time it seems for good when something happens to change events. The death of Massimo's close friend, Edoardo Anfossi, prompts him to take up his guitar and compose seven new pieces which he intends to dedicate to his late friend. First, of all, Massimo works with Maurizio Falcone, (an excellent acoustic guitarist - among his various contributions, the one with Untemberger is noteworthy), on three pieces and they record them together. Then Massimo contacts a friend of his, Daniela Blundo to help out with backing vocals and as lead vocals for one song. He then asks Paolo Sommariva (an excellent artist and designer of all of Nostalgia's C.D. cover sleeves, as well as those of "The glass tear", of "Notturno Concertante ", of "Purelake" and "Mindflower "), to re-elaborate a piece in Italian (what a surprise!). Lastly, Massimo revises the songs he has composed together with Andrea.

The final outcome is a strange mixture of songs revealing a certain amount of drama and restlessness, highlighted by some musical patterns by Romano. The last track composed by Andrea is added to the seven pieces by Massimo and the revised piece in Italian which together make up the album. After a year's work, "Welcome to Edo's Land" (Mellow MMP318) is finally recorded in August 1996, but it is only released in 1997.

In the meantime, on 26th June 1996, the tribute to Camel "Harbour of Joy" is released and "Nostalgia " take part with their piece "Long Goodbyes" from "Stationary Traveller".

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