Cafuné – Tra Le Corde Dei Racconti (M.P. & Records, 2025)
Named after the Portuguese word cafuné, a gesture of affection involving fingers combing through a loved one’s hair, the Italian sextet Cafuné presents a collection of lovely, intimate acoustic songs. Their debut album, Tra Le Corde Dei Racconti (Between the Strings of Stories), draws from early music, British folk-rock and Celtic music, while its lyricism is rooted in the mysticism of Lunigiana, the group’s native region in northwestern Tuscany.
Guitarist and composer Antonio Pincione (formerly of Lethean and Bededeum) leads the ensemble alongside vocalist and co-writer Chiara Vatteroni, with Irene Lippolis (flute), Emanuele Casu (cello), Floriana Benedetti (harp), and Michele Vannucci (percussion) completing the lineup. Together, they craft a beautiful set that intertwines finely crafted layered strings and poetic storytelling.
The album aligns stylistically with late 1960s and early 1970s British folk revival acts such as Pentangle, Fairport Convention, and Fotheringay. Its instrumental passages occasionally echo the progressive rock sound of Ian Anderson’s flute work or the inventive guitar interplay of John Renbourn and Jacqui McShee. However, Cafuné’s sound remains rooted in Italian storytelling, with folkloric allusions specific to the Lunigiana region. These compositions suggest a parallel reality, one that is timeless, melancholic, and faintly surreal.
Recorded and mixed by Mirko Mangano at Media Wave Studio in Massa (MS). Music by Antonio Pincione and Chiara Vatteroni. Lyrics by Chiara Vatteroni.
Cover image by Luca Merli. Pictures by Irene Malfanti. Artwork and graphics by Ondemedie.
Musicans: Antonio Pincione on classical and acoustic guitars, bouzouki; Chiara Vatteroni on: Celtic harp;
Irene Lippolis on vocals; Emanuele Casu on electric bass; Floriana Benedetti on flute, synthesizer; and Michele Vannucci on drums, percussion.
Buy Tra Le Corde Dei Racconti.
Author: Iliana Cabrera
