GUANO PADANO REVEAL MORE INSIGHT INTO THE LITERARY INSPIRATION BEHIND THEIR NEW ALBUM AMERICANA (FEAT JOEY BURNS, MARK ORTON, DAN FANTE, AND MORE)
The premise for Guano Padano’s Americana is like very few others, it is inspired by an underground and anti-fascist literary movement that happened in Italy between 1930-1940, where Italian intellectuals started to translate American literature in a regime where open displays of affection for any foreign culture was strictly forbidden. Much like these literary-rebels Guano Padano have fallen in love with classic American culture, but have gone in a totally different direction with their translations.
Guano Padano musically interpret the words and verses of great authors such as Hemingway, Cesare Pavese, Steinbeck, John Fante, Sherwood Anderson and many more. Below is a track-by-track breakdown of the literature which inspired each song, as well as some insight into the album’s guest appearances which notably includes Joey Burns (Calexico), Mark Orton and words by Dan Fante (son of author John Fante)
Inspired by William Saroyan, The Tiger, in The Trouble With Tigers, first edition Harcourt Brace, New York, 1938; first italian translation by Elio Vittorini as La belva bianca, in Americana, Bompiani, Milano, 1941.
Pian Della Tortilla
Inspired by John Steinbeck, Tortilla Flat, first edition Covici – Friede, New York, 1935; first italian translation by Elio Vittorini as Pian della Tortilla, Bompiani, Milano, 1939.
El Toro
Inspired by Ernest Hemingway, 14th “vignette” in In Our Time, first edition Boni & Liveright, New York, 1925; first italian translation by Giuseppe Trevisani as “miniatura” XIV in I quarantanove racconti, Einaudi, Torino, 1947.
My Banjo Dog
Inspired by Sherwood Anderson, Dark Laughter, first edition Boni & Liveright, New York, 1925; first italian translation by Cesare Pavese as Riso Nero, Frassinelli, Torino, 1932.
Dago Red – words by Dan Fante
Inspired by John Fante, The Odyssey of a Wop, in Dago Red, first edition Viking Press, New York, 1940; first italian translation by Francesco Durante as L’odissea di un wop, in Dago Red, Marcos y Marcos, Milano, 1997.
But The Children Own The Stars – Part 1
Inspired by Elio Vittorini, Americana, Bompiani, Milano, 1941.White Giant
Inspired by Cesare Pavese, I mari del Sud, in Lavorare Stanca, Einaudi, Torino, 1943 (first edition Solaria, Firenze, 1936); english translation by William Arrowsmith as South Seas, in Hard Labor, Grossman, New York, 1976.The Hollow Answer Of The Night
Inspired by William Saroyan, The Tiger.Flem’s Circus
Inspired by William Faulkner, The Hamlet, book 4th (The Peasants), first edition Random House, New York, 1940; first italian translation by Cesare Pavese as Il borgo, libro IV (I villani), Mondadori, Milano, 1942.
My Town – words by Joey Burns of Calexico
Inspired by Sherwood Anderson, A Lame One – To J. J., in Dark Laughter.Station 37
Inspired by Cesare Pavese, La luna e i falò, Einaudi, Torino, 1950; english translation by Louise Sinclair as The Moon and the Bonfire, Owen, London, 1952.Cacti
Inspired by Cesare Pavese, La luna e i falò.But The Children Own The Stars – Part 2
Inspired by Elio Vittorini, Americana, Bompiani, Milano, 1941.Better Than The Radio
Inspired by Ernest Hemingway, The Gambler, the Nun and the Radio, in Winner Take Nothing, first edition Scribner, New York, 1932; first italian translation by Elio Vittorini as Monaca e messicani, la radio, in Americana, Bompiani, Milano, 1941.The Seed And The Soil
Inspired by Edgar Lee Masters, Caroline Branson, in Spoon River Anthology, Macmillan & Co., London, 1915; first italian translation by Fernanda Pivano as Caroline Branson, in Antologia di S. River, Einaudi, Torino, 1941.
Black Boy – featuring Mark Orton
Inspired by Richard Wright, Black Boy, first edition Harper & Brothers, New York, 1945; first italian translation by Bruno Fonzi as Ragazzo Negro, Einaudi, Torino, 1946.The Fat Of The Land
Inspired by John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, first edition Covici Friede, New York, 1937; first italian translation by Cesare Pavese as Uomini e topi, Bompiani, Milano, 1938.
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