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Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
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Reviews

Stefano Panunzi — A Rose
(Bandcamp Emeral 0109, 2009, CD / DL)

Fjieri — Endless
(Forward Music FMI-CA01001090, 2009, CD)

by Alessandro Michelucci, Published 2011-07-01

A Rose Cover artEndless Cover art

Italian music can range from the worst, unlistenable mainstream to the most elegant and stimulating avantgarde. Concerning the latter, a case in point is talented Roman composer / keyboardist Stefano Panunzi. He is usually labelled a prog musician, but this definition can only be accepted provide that any bombastic content associated with this label is excluded. His previous, first CD, Timelines, was released in 2005. Many of the musicians involved can be found in these two newer releases, including guitarist Nicola Lori and former Japan member the late Mick Karn. Also, the two CDs involve a great deal of musicians, such as Theo Travis and Markus Reuter (on A Rose) as well as Tim Bowness and another former Japan member, keyboardist Richard Barbieri (on Endless). As in his previous solo work, Panunzi creates intricate, quirky sound textures by using measured, carefully-crafted effects. Both CDs are mainly instrumental, with most texts in English: this is not the usual sign of Italian anglophilia, but it perfectly fits two recordings where some half the musicians are American or British. Each CD features an Italian text sung by Andrea Chimenti, who has collaborated with David Sylvian and others. A Rose features some flavour of Harold Budd’s Fourth World music, mostly conjured by Mike Applebaum’s trumpet. Some tracks from both CDs display floating and serene sounds, but it’s a far cry from New Age music or the like. On Endless, Barbieri and Panunzi create enticing multi-layered textures throughout.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 39, 2009 releases

Related artist(s): Richard Barbieri, Mick Karn, Gavin Harrison, Tim Bowness, Haco, Stefano Panunzi, Fjieri, Nicola Lori

 

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