GOLD OVER ICE is the first CD written and produced by the songwriter duo SECOND PRIME – Valerio Cugia & Itie Beentjer. 



Listen to some fragments:

The Adolescent look lives on

Gold over Ice

Write it on the Wall

Looking over my Shoulder

The CD was recorded between April and May 2010 at the MW studios of Groningen, The Netherlands. It consists of 12 songs ranging from romantic ballads to more sustained rock & roll pieces. A dozen musicians from various musical backgrounds helped in the playing while the singing was left to the composing duo.

The ideal direction followed by the composers was to produce songs that had literary and musical quality, keeping in mind reference points such as The Beatles and other groups of the ‘60s and ‘70s. The lyrics written by Valerio treat subjects related to life: love, friendship, dissappointments, nostalgia, travel, but also ironic themes refering to contemporary society. The music and the arrangements by Itie sustain the texts with effective melodies and, incorporating a variety of instruments both acoustic and electric, colour perfectly the different musical atmospheres.

Here is a short analysis of the songs:

THE ADOLESCENT LOOK LIVES ON – This song inspired by “Candle in the wind” by Elton John/Bernie Taupin, is a homage to the late actor James Dean. Contrary to the inspiring source, a nostalgic ballad, this song has a sustained musical rhythm leading in a crescendo to a double saxophone solo.

GOLD OVER ICE – An intimate mood created by an oboe and clarinet brings the listener in a nostalgic reverie on a far-away friend writing her book of Roman childhood memories while overlooking a Canadian winter landscape.

NIGHT-TIME REFLECTIONS – An ironic and musically effective rock & roll where insomnia and reflections on everyday difficulties mix with repressed sexual desires.

RAMBLE TRAVEL – A country-style ballad kept musically simple by a main acoustic guitar playing, the only song sung entirely by Itie. The theme is a hymn to travel without constraints and plans, a journey to discover the world and oneself.

OPEN MY WINDOW AND SOUL – A song intended to inspire depressed people, to encourage them to fight when down and without direction. A faster refrain coupled with a renewed attitude towards life gives hope of a better future where love will be awaiting them.

WORDS WASHED AWAY – On very simple lyrics over a paper message thrown in a stream the song keeps an upbeat tempo giving a possible positive unfolding. The ukelele and the piano sustain a choir-like double singing.

WRITE IT ON THE WALL – The only song where the music came first and the lyrics were added later. A simple and effective rock & roll based on efficient drum beating and strong guitar licks. Itie sings the main melodic line while Valerio sings an octave lower like an ancient Greek choir.

CAFÉ VAATSTRA – The first song written by the duo. In a French-like atmosphere suggested by an accordion this ballad depicts the pictorial beauty and atmosphere of a simple and unknown cafè in the north of the Netherlands.

LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER – A moral song with a strong message over our hypocricies and self interests; saying something and meaning another. On a well structured text this melodically strong ballad brings us to reflect more on ourselves.

TAPING MY LOVE FOR YOU – Probably the most musically complex song of all in this record, the text is a homage to a life long love and the slight embarassement of  making such a public declaration of affection. Another love song to be added to the thousands that have preceded it.

THEIR MAKEUP – Irony in its purest form. Why in contemporary Western society only women have the monopoly of using makeup? It was not like that in the past and it is not so in other cultures. A strong rock & roll with a three part musical structure giving ample space to guitar solos.

SLEEP – A homage to “Good Night” and “I’m So Tired” of The Beatles. Using only a classical string trio, this song is structured on various vocal lines mainly sung by Itie and slowly bringing the listener into a meditative and relaxed state. Hopefully they will be able to turn off the Hi-Fi before falling asleep…

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