LLL - 2025 - Shaping Colours

(52:31; Iapetus Media)





















Iapetus Media are rapidly becoming one of my favourite labels, as even though the artist name may be new, one knows that what is contained within is going to be exciting and not like anything one has come across previously. Here we have Lorenzo Feliciati‬ (electric bass with electronics, synth), Luca Calabrese‬ (flugelhorn, pocket trumpet, live electronics), and Luca‬ Formentini (Moog guitar, modular synth, sampler,‬ Monome Norns), captured live in front of an audience at Spazio Pontano in Milan‬ on January 9th and 10th, 2024. Not only was this a totally improvised performance but was also the first time the three musicians had played together, so they were bouncing out ideas and themes not sure what the response would be like. Even though the incredible Markus Reuter was not playing that night, he has had a hand in this album as he is the person who mixed the recordings and then produced it alongside LLL.

The combination of bass, electronics, keyboards, horns and plenty of effects make for quite a listening experience, as the musicians allow themselves to create curtains of sound, changing the tone, dropping everything away when the time is tight so we experience music which is almost claustrophobic in its density and then there is suddenly space and it feels almost as if a bright light has been shone on proceedings. Themes are developed, sometimes returned to, but quickly discarded if it is felt they are not delivering the inspiration required. It is incredible at just how powerful repeated keyboard chords can be when played delicately against a background of white noise generation and then beautiful horns over the top. The lack of true guitar or drums are never missed as there is just not the room as the musicians manipulate sound to create an all-encompassing experience which must have been truly incredible when heard in the live environment as opposed to playing on headphones. This is yet another true sonic delight for those wanting to push the musical boundaries. 

Kev Rowland, July 2025

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