Italian electronic producer Enrico Marani originally started out as a member of cult industrial band T.A.C. before splitting off on his own and going on to work with the likes of Tim Motzer and Ursula Rucker, all the while also balancing his own output as a visual artist. Two years on from his debut album ‘The Unspeakable’, this second album from Marani under his Samora alias ‘Lontano’ arrives on Psychonavigation’s Tranquillo sublabel and sees him fusing predominantly ambient and drone-based soundscapes with occasional hints of ‘real’ instrumentation, with two tracks here offering up a spoken-word collaboration with The Church’s Steve Kilbey. As a complete listen, it’s certainly a beguiling and enveloping experience that sees occasional traces of darkness rising to the fore amidst the more calming elements. ‘Mare Aperto’ leads things off gently at first with an oceanic drift through twinkling synthetics and brooding drones before a slow bass drum pulse locks into place against what sounds like the slow phased wash of heavily treated guitar chords.
‘The Conversation’ meanwhile sends rippling electro-laced synths ebbing against a yawning backdrop of spectral ambient drones and intricate piano keys in what’s easily one of the more eerie moments to be found here, the sudden piano interjections adding an ominous undercurrent that’s brought out even more by the dark, almost orchestral swells. The two spoken word collaborations also easily represent highlights here, with Steve Kilbey’s alternately playful and dark poetry finding a more than suitable counterpoint in Marani’s evocative soundscapes. While ‘Oceana’ offers an extended welcome to the title’s ‘Interzone’-like sanctuary against suitable inviting and lulling melodic tones, ‘Paul’ sees Kilbey reminiscing on a surreal day in Wisconsin with his brother that sees harsh digital clicks and cuts disrupting the hazy sense of psychedelic reverie, to suitably unsettling effect. An intriguing second album from Marani as Samora that certainly repays repeated listening.
