Ufo Bar

It’s quite fitting that Banda Maje’s debut would be released by Four Flies Records, a record label that specializes in unearthing vintage Italian library music. Ufo Bar is an imaginary place, a smoky bar in downtown Salerno where people come and meet lovers, buy smuggled cigarettes, and exchange stories, all with a jukebox playing in the background. Formed by composer and keyboard player Peppe Maiellano and producer and rapper Tonico Settanta, Banda Maje are excellent at bringing 1970s Salerno to life with their mix of Neapolitan music and American funk and soul. Set against the backdrop of the city’s historic neighborhoods, each track tells a different story, with the group’s laid back vocals gliding over the sharp keyboard melodies, smooth as silk horns and catchy as hell grooves.