In Pista Nera with Post Nebbia
The tale of a world in free fall, stubbornly trying to hide its ruins behind the blinding white of artificial snow. "Pista Nera" is the new album by Post Nebbia, released on November 22 by Dischi Sotterranei.
Written by Carlo Corbellini and arranged by Post Nebbia, the album once again pushes beyond every comfort zone, exploring new sonic and thematic territories. Pista Nera accurately and cleverly transposes into music that generational sense of vertigo, teetering between anger and disillusionment, disenchantment and betrayal, which feels as personal as it is universally shared and relatable. With cynical and disenchanted irony, at times reminiscent of the exaggerated humor of Fantozzi, the songs effectively convey that feeling of anger and powerlessness, bitterness and bewilderment that follows the realization of a future reduced to rubble.
We had the chance to explore the album through the eyes of Carlo Corbellini, to better understand the decadent world of Post Nebbia – one made not of apres ski and bombardinos, but of revolutions and contrasts.
“The first thing to emerge was the musical idea of making a record that was faster, more intense, darker – and a bit more tailored to the band. All the previous albums started from a very ‘homegrown’ and solitary process, where each of us might write parts that naturally fit together when we played them. The goal of this record was to create something extremely collaborative, so from the start, we met in the rehearsal room, tested out the tracks, and added elements in a more collective way than before. By meeting up and playing together, a lot of things change because you adapt to the piece, and the band, in this case, becomes a very useful filter – a perfect arrangement tool that forces you to refine ideas. Rehearsing a lot in the mountains, in places I experienced during childhood (where I have many fond memories), which have now inevitably changed due to climate shifts, sparked the visual theme of skiing and that kind of setting. It’s the first album I’ve approached as a producer in the recording studio context, where I had to manage drums, various acoustics, etc. We tried to tweak it very little – we recorded once, and there isn’t much post-production. It’s all very played-through, let’s say, more natural. I spent quite a bit of time listening to music with fewer chords and more rhythm. The influences lean more towards punk, and the band completely understood and shared this vision. We sometimes jammed, and in fact, the album's intro comes from one of those jams”.
Post Nebbia shot by Riccardo Michelazzo, courtesy of Press Office. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Musically, there is significant evolution – though consistent with Post Nebbia’s usual aesthetic. There’s a lot of sonic co-exploration, with numerous influences that assume a clear identity. A bridge between past and present, a sign of lived experience while still remembering what came before. A nostalgic leitmotif manifests in every aspect of the album: from the music to the lyrics and the overall imagery.
“The past exists in the album context, but mostly as a reflection. The record is very grounded in the present, even if there is an underlying melancholy. Innocence and the past are just contemplations in relation to the present. In the photo (the cover), there’s my great-grandfather, whom I never met; he died in the 80s or 90s. That photo is ancient and gives me vertigo – not just literally, but viscerally. That was a time when there were still many achievements to pursue, many unexplored paths. My great-grandfather and the mountaineers created trails and refuges... Now we don’t have the chance to live such a full life, rich with conquests. Everything is oversaturated, the world is full in every way, making it harder to find your place”.
Following this train of thought, do you think there is still room for a tangible alternative, or has music simply become a means to document this shipwreck?
“This is what I know how to do. I try to process what I live and feel through this medium, which is music. For everything else, I think we need to reach the so-called tipping point – where something really bad and serious has to happen before there is fertile ground to do anything in this world. That scares me a lot because it’s not certain that our generation will even get to live through what comes next. Especially since our generation is paying the price for previous ones and also feels the anxiety of having to build and lay the foundations for future generations without having the capacity or means to do so”.
If Pista Nera were the soundtrack to a movie, what would the film be about?
“That’s an interesting question. Someone had posted a gif in the Instagram comments of James Bond skiing through explosions. Maybe I’d like something like that... but I don’t think it would be that. I imagine it might be a good Cold War spy movie. I’d love that”.
Three albums that simply changed your life!
“PINATA by Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, Lonerism by Tame Impala, and The White Album by The Beatles. It’s not my favorite, but it’s the one I’ve listened to the most”.
How do you see the band evolving after Pista Nera? What are the plans for the near future?
“I wouldn’t know. I’d like to make another album as soon as the tour ends. Right now, we’re thrilled to be touring and playing live. We want to perform; we can’t stand being cooped up at home anymore (laughs). That’s the only thing we’re focusing on and preparing for. For now, we just want to play, and then we’ll see. But yes, I’d like to make another album after this one. And after that, maybe another one”.
After the album's release, in fact, Post Nebbia will tour clubs across Italy and will also perform at ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) in the Netherlands on Wednesday, January 15, Europe’s most important showcase festival. Here are the tour dates, organized by Panico Concerti: January 23 in Rome - Largo Venue, January 24 in Florence - Viper Club, January 29 in Milan - Magazzini Generali, January 30 in Turin - Hiroshima Mon Amour, January 31 in Padua - Hall. February 7 in Bologna - Locomotiv Club, February 8 in Pordenone - Capitol, February 20 in Pozzuoli (NA) - Duel Club, and February 21 in Molfetta (BA) - Eremo Club.
