Customer Reviews

Humus

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Italian ambient composer, Emanuele Errante lands his second full length release on the only label where it belongs - Somnia. Errante began his musical career in electronic folk-rock bands. In 2004 he released his first solo album, Stand, under Mais alias on a Maetrixsolution netlabel. In 2005, Errante released his first ambient work under his real name, Absolute EP on Maetrixsolution once again. 2006 reaped his debut full length, Migrations, on Apegenine Recordings - a Canadian independent label for electronic textural music that first hit the scene with a compilation of ambient sounds from Julien Neto, Xhale, Xerxes, and Khonnor among a few [definitely worth checking out as well]. Errante's sound is soothing, organic, drifting, and at the same time present in the now. The textures within the soundscapes are carefully laid out, like a crisp white table cloth saved for a special occasion. The music within Humus is more than just a selection of layered ambient pads and smoky dream states. Intelligent design and production looms just around the corner, ready to reveal itself just as you float away. Errante is definitely an excellent addition to the roster of Somnia. Instantly fitting in among the modern classical releases by its owner, Evan Bartholomew, Somnia's third hand made installment propels the independent label to the ranks of Xela's Type Records and Deaf Center's Miasmah. I've got my eyes and ears open awaiting any future releases from this young label, as it slowly reveals its layers and unfolds its wings. Recommended for the likes of the above mentioned artists. Favorite track: Radio Hopes

Italian, in Napoli based, composer Emanuele Errante is one of those artists who remained undeservingly unknown to me for a quite long time, what a shame on me! But the day, when I have explored the beauty of Herion's "Out And About" album, has changed it immediately. Now, several months later, I am absolutely fascinated by this talented musician. "Humus" is the second full length album of Emanuele, this time released on ambitious US label Somnia. The album opens with beautiful piece "Fecunda" on which Emanuele carefully blends acoustic arrangements with electronics, a very evocative and relaxing music composed with highest precision. The next two, "Lucus" and "Ros" are slightly more tense and sad. "Humi" employs some nice natural sounds and it slowly evolves into more monumental droning texture, absolutely amazing piece! The next, "Radio Hopes" belogs to the highlights too, deeper drones are perfectly melted with swirling sounds. But this organic ambient beauty continues on "Leaves" and also on "Aquatic", a stunning composition perfectly harmonizing with nature even if sounding sharply synthetic at some points, another big one! "Primo Tema" features some sonic experiments, but remains very compact with the album. "Ant's Trail" is one of the most lively pieces on "Humus" where leading euphoric piano is colored by some well placed glitches. "Magic Wood", with its strongly organic feel, is nicely enriched by some pleasant pulsing techno beat, truly hypnotic and fresh. Minimal "Ultimo Tema" closes the album very quietly. "Humus" is a true masterwork, not only musically, but also visually thanks to Somnia's highly attractive and artful packaging as well as sonically thanks to its almost audiophile-like sound. Emanuele Errante showed with this album his enormous and unlimited capability in composing beautifully creative and adventurous ambient music. Once again, as mentioned in my Herion's review and no matter if you agree or disagree, to me, Emanuele Errante is one of the rising stars on the scene!!!

Richard Gürtler (Bratislava, Slovakia)