Federico Albanese

Blackbirds and the Sun of October

Blackbirds and the Sun of October is the name of the new album by Federico Albanese and his debut on XXIM Records (Sony Music). It was inspired by his native Monferrato in northern Italy, where it was written and recorded in its entirety. "It's an album about coming home, but above all about origins and heritage," says the pianist, composer and producer.

After living in Berlin for several years, Federico Albanese returned to his homeland with his family in the fall of 2022 - to a picturesque landscape and with the feeling, as he says, of being "deeply connected to this place". This proved inspiring in many ways. "It's a sense of freedom that comes with returning and flows into everything you do - including music." His compositions reflect the deep, natural beauty of his surroundings - the colors, the wildlife, the changing seasons, but also the rich history and the many myths and legends that have been passed down from generation to generation over thousands of years. "This place breathes history," he adds. "It's very romantic in that sense."

While his earlier albums often revolved around memories, inner worlds and imaginary landscapes, Blackbirds and the Sun of October draws from the concrete, physical world around him - from history, nature and beauty. "I feel the freedom in this music," he says, "and there's more positivity in it. I realize that something is different than before." This freedom - and reflection on heritage and history - also leads him to draw on a wide variety of musical influences, fusing classical music with modern sounds. Challenged to explore new directions and ideas in his music, Blackbirds and the Sun of October includes compositions that feel timeless and draw on the classical musical traditions of the region, as well as more modern, experimental pieces. "I felt freer to do things I wouldn't normally do. So I added percussion where I would never have added it otherwise, or wrote a suite just for piano and cello that could be 400 years old."

So we hear the tranquil-sounding piano and strings of 'The Prince and the Emperor', based on the 10th century AD story of the knight Aleramo and Emperor Otto I, and the bright, hopeful 'Adelasia', inspired by the princess who so charmed Aleramo. There is also a fragility, delicate moments of gentle beauty that glow like sunlight on dew; the tenderness of "A Story Yet to Be Told" and "Song for the Village" or the soothing sounds of "Wallpaper of Dreams". Then there's the title track, a more modern, bustling composition built on a soaring piano line, steady drums and a hint of darkness resonating in the background. It was the first piece he wrote upon his arrival in Monferrato, just as the autumn colors were beginning to bloom. Blackbirds and the Sun of October is a title that felt right from the start - "I wanted to find an image that perfectly captured the essence of the place and time where the album was taking shape," Albanese explains. "The blackbirds, the autumn light - there was a touch of magic in those moments that I wanted to translate into music. The location conveys everything that makes this album what it is."