Articles
Robert Henke
Deepchord and Soultek

Albums
Amoebazoid
Boy Is Fiction
BTB
Calika
Vic Chesnutt
Enrico Coniglio
Eric Copeland
Deadbeat
Deepchord : Echospace
Ditch
Terrence Dixon
Brian Ellis
Reinhold Friedl
The Green Kingdom
Marc Hannaford
Hrsta
K. Leimer
Lights Out Asia
Nebula 3
Netherworld
Le Peuplier de Simon
Po
Portable
Lou Reed
Jeffrey Roden
Skallander
Swod
Gregory Taylor
Telephone Jim Jesus
Pau Torres
Tunng
Rolan Vega
Robert Vincs
Warmth
Otomo Yoshihide

Compilations / Mixes
Sander Kleinenberg
One Point Two
Total 8

3"/ 7"/ 10"/ 12"/ EPs
Adultnapper
Arrow!!!
Ascoltare
Beneva vs. Clark Nova
Cinematic Orchestra
Deepchord : Echospace
Easy Changes
Fink
Peter Grummich
The Heavy
Isomer Transition
Laptik
Larytta
Nadja
Pendle Coven
Polvere
Redhooker
Spied
Andy Stott
Torrance & Hochstrate
Andy Vaz

Enrico Coniglio: AREAVIRUS - Topofonie Vol. 1
Psychonavigation

On his oddly-titled AREAVIRUS Topofonie Vol 1, Enrico Coniglio directs the flow of ten perpetually mutating settings perched midway between electro-acoustic soundscaping and a distinctive ambient-jazz-electronica fusion. The Venice-based composer anchors the album with his own guitar playing, synthesizers, and programming but, wisely, also adopts a gentlemanly stance in allowing distinguished guests like trumpeter Arve Henriksen and bass clarinetist Piero Bittolo Bon to have their own moments in the spotlight. That the album apparently was inspired by the ambiance of a Venice lagoon is evidenced by dark ambient settings like the occasionally nightmarish “Murania” and “Areavirus,” a curdling, nocturnal gloomscape of tinkling bells and decaying noises.

The explorative meander of certain pieces (“Stalking Venice,” “Velme inc. Ground One,” “ExistenZ minimum”) showcases the album's evocative side, while the ballad settings bring the splendor of acoustic playing to the fore (Hans-Joachim Roedelius's nuanced piano ruminations in “Alpen Tower”). The deep croak of Bittolo Bon's bass clarinet intensifies the ethereal character of the dirge “Waterphonics,” an effect augmented further by the panning drift of a string sample that surfaces midway through, and the bluesy lilt “Olivola.” In “Lav(a)sciuga,” a lightly dancing rhythm forms a quietly jubilant anchor for Coniglio's atmospheric guitar interjections, Nicola Alesini's clarinet murmur, and Guido Marzorati's elegant piano enhancements. The album's peak moment arrives halfway through in the beautiful ballad “W+J theme,” largely due to Henriksen's mournful, flute-like cry but the piece is distinguished too by Coniglio's sensitive guitar accompaniment and Marzorati's piano support. Coniglio's multi-varied collection provides a rich and oft-surprising listening experience.

September 2007