| NINO
MOSCHELLA "THE FIX" (CD / LP)
"One of the albums that I've been digging in a big way is this! Absolutely superb... absolutely classic!"
GILLES PETERSON
"i fu--in love the cd...wish i had his talent..."
TOMMY GUERRERO
"This is my first favorite record of the summer"
GREG J., KEXP-FM (SEATTLE)
"One to watch... Essential"
CMJ NEW MUSIC MONTHLY
"The record Stevie Wonder should’ve made after Songs in the Key of Life – providing someone took away his studio budget and forced him to listen to the Sex Pistols and Prince."
SEE MAGAZINE
"This is next level shit"
STRAIGHT NO CHASER
"It's such an assured, confident set that you'd think the Italian-American newcomer had been at it for years..."
I-DJ
“Simply put, The Fix is one of the best albums of the year. Period.”
ABOUT R&B
      
    
The
first time we heard 29 year old Nino Moschella we knew he had
that magic touch. Gritty, soulful, and honest, his vocal styling
and unique funk-meets-rock-meets-soul productions were a must-have
for Ubiquity. Imagine our surprise when we learned that this golden
voice belonged to a rough n’tumble Irish-Italian-American
character from around the way. Fellow Bay Area crooner Bart Davenport
bought Nino Moschella to our attention. He mailed demo tracks
that had been recorded at Moschella’s home studio. Working
on only a 4-track tape machine, hand claps and broom-stick banging
took the place of computer-driven drum loops. Innovating with
limited resources his thrifty studio situation provided the perfect
dirty back-drop to a fresh vocal talent.
Using the same DIY ethic Moschella plays almost all the instruments
on The Fix, his debut album. He also makes most of the rhythmic
noises and effects from drums to beat boxing, and banging random
items in his studio. He has a minimal production style keeping
only the most essential elements. The end product sounds like
a cross between 1960's soul and early 1970's funk mixed with a
little indie-pop and a dash of folk. The chugging lo-fi stoner
soul of the opening track "Are You For Real" leaves
space for Moschella to build in an impressive vocal performance
ranging from falsetto to flat-out screaming! Rock, blues and gospel
elements combine on "If You Believe", while "Didn't
You See Her" bursts into action oozing sunny southern-fried
funk.
When Ubiquity Records first made contact with Moschella, propping
up the bar at local East Bay haunt The Ivy Room, it was clear
that he had not previously heard of us and was someone with musical
influences that didn’t include the typical list of current
funk and soul faves. He even suggested we might file his records
between Caruso and Louie Prima, “In with the other Italian
soul singers," he joked. Of his influences Moschella says,
“In the last couple of years I discovered Donny Hathaway’s
music and voice. That dude was incredible,” and added, “If
I find myself getting clouded or too heady, I’ll put on
some Miles, Oscar Peterson, the Montgomery Bros. or Jimmy Smith."
Moschella lives with his wife Mia and daughter (born during the
recording of The Fix) in Friant California, close to Yosemite,
in a round house his father built with friends in the late 1960s.
They also built a music studio on the property which is where
most of his album was recorded. There’s nothing much but
trees, creeks, coyotes, the sun, moon and stars to keep them company.
Born into a musical family Moschella’s father was perhaps
his first musical influence. “My dad sings and plays guitar.
He started out in the choir and singing doo-wop in the Bronx,
and he even plays harp on the album,” explains Moschella.
“My mom sings lullabies, I had a great uncle Nino who played
the violin and my grand folks were always singin’. You know,
typical loud Sicilian folks always carrying on.”
To read more about Nino Moschella, click
here.
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