Magari - Diumenge (2024) [Hi-Res]

The gestation of Magari dates back several years to the small village of Pedra in Cerdanya, where Ivan Garriga and Liv Hallum would occasionally cross paths due to the close friendship between their respective families. From those chance encounters grew a deep friendship and mutual understanding that laid the foundation for a musical partnership that continues to this day.

The beginnings of their journey were shaped by the work available to musicians in the area at the time: markets and fairs, public square dances, and local festivals. Through this practice, the duo has spent over a decade immersed in performing traditional genres and melodies, drawing from the legacy of the old accordionists of the Pyrenees. This heritage was made accessible thanks to the efforts of musicologists and scholars like Artur Blasco, whose work has served as a bridge and a wellspring of knowledge for new generations of musicians.

After years of drawing from these roots, the duo decided to embark on a compositional journey that honors the essence of traditional dance genres and their structures while presenting a personal interpretation shaped by two friends in search of their unique sound. Most of the original pieces in their new album were composed by Liv, inspired by a year spent living in Italy. Nostalgia for home sparked a flood of melodies that were arranged and published as a duet of accordion and violin in collaboration with Ivan.

At the time, the duo—still unnamed—frequently traveled to Italy to participate in traditional music festivals. During these trips, they often heard the word magari, an Italian term meaning "maybe" or "if only," but also encompassing untranslatable nuances of hope, uncertainty, and aspiration, similar to the Arabic term inshallah. By chance and serendipity, the name became inseparably tied to the two musicians and their project.

With the melodies written and arrangements completed, the duo sought a way to pay homage to the elements of life that shaped their music. They decided to record a series of domestic sounds, inviting listeners into Ca l'Arajol de Pedra, Liv’s home. A place where they had often rehearsed, shared meals, and spent time with loved ones. A home that, in essence, represents all homes and the importance of the little things that fill each day with meaning. The recording captures the creaks of old wood, the hiss of a coffee maker, and the crackle of a wood-burning stove, evoking the familiar sounds that accompany life in any home.

Technical Details:
Liv Hallum López-Lauder: Performer, composer.
Ivan Garriga Edo: Performer, composer.
Martí Hosta: Percussion on "Ilargia eta eguzkia," "Magari," and "l'home-llop."
Pepino Pascual: Musical saw, clarinet, and sound toys on "Magari" and "L'hora del cafè."
Arnau Obiols: Vocals, harmonium, and square tambourine on "Les alabances."
Joan Cabré i Miret: Musical production, recording, and mixing.
Ferran Conangla i Mayor: Mastering.
El Local: Graphic design.

Tracklist:
1-1. Magari - La Principessa (04:56)
1-2. Magari, Martí Hosta - Illargia eta eguzkia (03:40)
1-3. Magari - Arrel (03:16)
1-4. Magari, Pepino Pascual, Martí Hosta - Magari (03:39)
1-5. Magari - Limerick (03:18)
1-6. Magari, Pepino Pascual - L'hora del cafè (02:15)
1-7. Magari - Diumenge (02:17)
1-8. Magari, Martí Hosta - L'home llop (03:50)
1-9. Magari - Lontananza (02:48)
1-10. Magari - Euterpe i l'esquella (03:05)
1-11. Magari - Marededéu de les neus (05:17)
1-12. Magari, Arnau Obiols - Alabances (05:25)