Mixtape: Spaghetti & Steel by Rick Pedrosa

Pedal steel player Rick Pedrosa’s The Far Sound has been a favorite around here. His new album for Centripetal Force is steeped in ambient country, Italian Library Soundtracks, psych-folk smolder, and kosmiche touches. I asked Rick to put together a mixtape of the album’s influences and the results are Spaghetti & Steel.

“These songs really speak to me, notes Rick. “I love music that creates a narrative in my mind, songs that take a listener somewhere with a story. It’s the driving force behind most of the songs on this mix.”

“I’m drawn to the arrangements, melodies, sounds, vibe, and percussion usage. There’s quite a bit of non pedal steel guitar on this mix, which lends itself to involving more single note melodies, something I enjoy because those sounds are more vocal. It’s an element I put in my own songs. I do like the lush chords of pedal steel as well though. I guess the vibe these songs bring just really takes my mind to different places I want to be and makes me feel good.”

“I love Italian composers. Two that really have inspired me are Ennio Morricone and Piero Umiliani. I definitely draw a lot from those two in how songs are structured and how instruments are layered. I love the drama and dynamics. The multi instrumentalist Alessandro Alessandroni is also a massive inspiration to me, particularly when it comes to his melodies and compositions. He’s best known for his work with Morricone, but his solo material is great. That “whistle” that’s omnipresent is spaghetti westerns? That’s Alessandro.”

::Tracklist::

White Sands- Alessandro Alessandroni
Transizione- Alessandro Alessandroni
Off Shore- Santo & Johnny
VIII Variazione Arpeggiami- Ennio Morricone 
Neend Chamaye- Kazi Arindam
The Cave- Lloyd Green 
Un Altro Mare – Ennio Morricone with Edda Dell’Orso
Perdon- Toño Fuentes 
Hay Palashi- Kazi Aniruddha
Rovine di Gerico – Piero Umaliani
Jay’s Tune – Red Rhodes
Primo Rito-Ennio Morricone
Amrit Anand- Debashish Bhattacharya
Avanscoperta- Piero Umaliani 
C’Eravamo Tanto Amati- Armando Trovajoli
Reflections From the Moon- Speedy West

Listen to new track, “Meadow Transmission” from The Far Sound HERE