electrocd

The Science of Breath

Polmo Polpo

Alien8 Recordings and its sub-label Substractif will release the debut full-length, “The Science of Breath”, by Toronto producer Sandro Perri, a.k.a. Polmo Polpo, who blends deep, murky techno with rich layers of feedback and densely orchestrated melodies. Recently the artist has enjoyed an explosion in popularity, thanks in part to a number of opening performances for Do Make Say Think, Pan Sonic and Oval.

Trying to describe the sound of Polmo Polpo is not an easy task. The marriage of deep rhythms with shifting waves of melody and sometimes brutal white noise is certainly not a commonly used formula. This music is beyond catchy, the sound of the slide guitar shifting in and out of Gas-style minimalism gives the music a driving force that so much of the genre lacks.

Over the last few years Polmo Polpo has released four separate 12” EPs on his own imprint Audi Sesna, all of which have gone on to sell out overseas rather quickly. “The Science of Breath” includes four beat-based tracks from the latest two of these EPs, as well as four new shorter tracks that bring the entire record together, and tread the grounds of sound sculptors like Fennesz and Tim Hecker. This comparison is made mainly on the basis of natural and processed guitar sounds interspersed amongst ambient movements, giving one the feeling of exploring the ocean floor inside a pressurized echo chamber. Heavily layered cello and lap steel guitar combine their colours to create a world of ghostly shadows immersed in the throbbing pulse of “dance music”.

The track “Rottura” is hands down one of the best pieces of minimal techno ever produced. The lap steel gives the music a distinct and very emotional character, something that seems lacking in the genre of late. There is indeed a “pop” sensibility at work here, though it’s seamlessly blended into the more “experimental” fabric of the music. In fact it is shocking that so few people are furthering the exploration of minimal techno with such an unashamedly melodic approach, and this is a perfect example of one way to make things a little more interesting. The disc’s closing track, “Riva”, takes the formula of “Rottura” and pushes the acoustic instrumentation envelope further. This track has the drive of a Daft Punk stomper coupled with Henry Flynt-style minimalist drones that work beautifully.

Polmo Polpo will launch the CD at the very hip Suoni Per Il Popolo festival put on annually by the Casa del Popolo in Montréal, where he will perform alongside Tim Hecker (who will also be launching his new release for Substractif), as well as an all-star cast of Montréalers (Hangedup, Monstre, Mitchell Akiyama, and more) joining him on stage. Future plans for Polmo Polpo include working on an upcoming full length release for Montréal’s Constellation records.

Polmo Polpo’s “The Science of Breath” comes packaged in our beautiful custom gatefold jacket with stunning photographs of octopii.

CD (SUBSF 05)

Out of print

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