Four beautiful, talented women from Apulia in Southern Italy form the amazing a cappella vocal ensemble Faraualla. They perform their own compositions as well as arrangements of traditional southern Italian and Mediterranean songs. There are many a cappella moments here, and please note that Faraualla works with percussion ranging from harness bells, castanets and cymbals to small duggi, shekere, bass hand drum and rattle drum. What's incredible is the stunning vitality, power and freshness of this music. 14 songs, several striking originals by group member Gabriella Schiavone, "Tonga," "Elleipsis," "Uecumba," "Maha Te Song," "Spirits" (written with Guiseppe D'Ambrosio), and "Petra." The soaring, romantic traditional "Spondo" contrasts with the percussion tunes, and the 14th century "Questa Fanciull'Amor" is brought rhythmically up to date. Complex, dissonant harmonies on "Fescenne" somehow find their way to a rolling island rhythm, tossing in a manic Carnivale percussion riff. "Faraualla" is a surprising, original CD, winner of several world music and vocal music awards, and acclaimed as a masterwork!