Cure For Arachnophobes

Time for another marvellous disk from Christina Pluhar's ensemble L'Arpeggiata. This one is called La Tarentella - Antidotum Tarantulae and revolves around the belief in southern Europe, particularly Italy, that the sting of the tarantula spider could only be cured by singing and dancing. Once again, L'Arpeggiata come up with a seamless mix of folk and early music sounds. Amongst the harp, archlute, chitarrone, baroque guitar, viol and psaltery, there are also bagpipe type sounds and wild percussion. This mix is also evident in the singing which again features Marco Beasley, about whom I have enthused before and Lucilla Galeazzi. This time though there is also the wild earthy folk style of Alfio Antico from deep in that southern Italian countryside. As well as performing the rites to cure that spider sting, the lyrics are often deeply sensuous and full of Mediterranean connection to the earth and its' bounties. The disk is beautifully presented with erudite and informative notes. Interestingly, the photos of the various tarantulas show spiders completely unlike the furry beasts beloved of Bond movies.