Sonologyst

Raffaele Pezzella's Sonologyst made it to these pages a couple of times (Vital Weekly 1225, 1194, 1134 for instance) and here is a new one, with a quote from Ovi on the cover "Wherever you look, there is nothing but the image of death" (well, in Latin), which, perhaps, says something about the darker nature of the music. Maybe it is a sign of grim times, but in his previous work, Sonologyst wasn't a bundle of laughs either. As I noted previously, you could think that Pezzella's is gothic, but it is not. His dark electronic textures are also not necessarily of the strict drone variety; a few keys of a synthesizer pressed down with the eternal sustain. I'd say that his electronic treatments are more related to the world of musique concrète, early electronic music and mixed with some finer points made by those from the industrial music world, and all of this embedded within all things occult and modern mythologies, as Pezzella calls it. The six pieces on this release are fine showcases of these musical and non-musical interests. Unlike the early electronic music, Sonologyst sounds are longer and in general, don't apply a cut-up style, and that is part of the idea to create a haunting soundtrack, the horror soundtrack if you will. The feedback in 'Teatro Grootesco' is an example of screams from beyond, as well as something reminiscent of industrial music. That piece is the loudest of the lot anyway, and perhaps my least favourite track. I like it when Sonologyst plays out a more spacious electronics, dark and mysterious, brooding and suspense full. In that respect, I found the closing 'Chiangimuerti' the best. It is the longest piece, with church bells, creepy voices, drones, and lots of underlying suspense slowly building crescendo towards the big bang that never comes. It ends another remarkable release. (FdW) - Vital Weekly

Music and sound design: Raffaele Pezzella (Sonologyst). Organ on "Teatro Grottesco": Michael Bonaventure. Voice and bowed psaltery on "Maléfice": Ellen Southern. Double Bass (processed by Sonologyst) on Chiangimuerti: Alvaro Rosso. 

Quocunque adspicias, nihil est nisi mortis imago. - Publio Ovidio Nasone