FF’s first album, 1.0, was released in 1999 in Italy by Mescal and soon travelled beyond national borders. Universal Music Japan engineered a Japanese release in 2000, and Omnium Recordings an American/Canadian/Mexican one in early 2001, to a wide acclaim. In the mean time, Fiamma and Alberto had built up a permanent (and predominantly female and very young, consistently with the attitude of the project) live band. This includes the versatile Lady Jessica Lombardi, here (Emilian bagpipes, flutes, electric bass) and Italian-Eritrean female dj Medhin Paolos (loops and samples). The band has been invited to WOMAD 2001 in Palermo; to the CMJ Music Marathon in New York in the same year (the event cancelled because of the Twin Towers tragedy); to the Detroit Festival of the Arts in 2002 and to many festivals and gigs in Italy and abroad.
In September 2003 FF signed to American label Omnium Recordings and released their second album, Home. The new release is even more focused on northern Italian roots than the former one (almost all of the 11 tracks are traditionals, and traditional artists of the old generations feature prominently), but it is also more extreme in sound, with a harder, more “live” approach to electronica. The album was accompanied by a contract with an agent in the USA, SRO Artists, and an American tour, which saw FF perform on the most important American world music festivals and clubs of the period (Chicago, Detroit, Bloomington, Minneapolis, St. Louis...). Since January 2004 Home is in distribution in Sweden (by CDA); since March in the UK (by Discovery); on April 16th it will be released in Italy, too (by Mescal).
Mareoceano
Fiamma Fumana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Riding the currents
On the roads of salt water
Where you meet sailors and traders
I am tired of firmland
I want to stand on a deck
I will travel the Ocean Sea
Plucking the petals off the Windrose
Cold wind from the Ocean Sea
On the lousy harbour taverns
On the cranes and the warehouses
And on the street vendors
On the Indian and Chinese cooks
On the masters and the dealers
Cold wind from the Ocean Sea
May it clean hearts and minds
The song "Mareoceano" by Fiamma Fumana is a hymn to the sea and the freedom it represents. The lyrics speak of the desire to leave the land behind and embark on a journey across the ocean, guided only by the currents and the wind. The singer is tired of life on the land and longs for the adventure and excitement of the open sea. To this end, they will "pluck the petals off the Windrose," meaning they will navigate by following the direction of the wind rather than relying on maps or charts.
The second verse of the song describes the cold wind that blows from the ocean onto the shores where sailors and traders gather in taverns and warehouses. The wind is seen as a cleansing force that can sweep away the corruption and dishonesty that can be found in these places. The hope is that the wind will purify hearts and minds so that people can experience the true freedom and beauty of the ocean.
Overall, "Mareoceano" is a song that celebrates the sea and the sense of liberation and possibility that it offers. It speaks to the human desire for adventure and exploration, and the need to break free from the constraints of everyday life and embrace the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
I will travel the Ocean Sea
I intend to journey across the great ocean
Riding the currents
By utilizing the natural movements of the water
On the roads of salt water
Along the paths made by the salty sea
Where you meet sailors and traders
The place where one encounters those who make their living on the sea
I am tired of firmland
I've grown weary of living on land
I want to stand on a deck
I desire to be on the open deck of a ship
Plucking the petals off the Windrose
As I navigate, I'll follow the direction of the wind and compass
Cold wind from the Ocean Sea
The chilly breeze that comes from the vast sea
On the lousy harbour taverns
The poor quality drinking establishments found at ports
On the cranes and the warehouses
On the equipment and storage buildings used to transport goods
And on the street vendors
Also found among the vendors selling their wares on the sidewalks
On the Indian and Chinese cooks
The culinary experts hailing from India and China
On the masters and the dealers
The experienced captains and traders
May it clean hearts and minds
May this breeze purify the attitudes and thoughts of those it touches
Contributed by Jordan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.