CD/LP/Track Review
Roberto Iolini: Electroacoustic, Chamber Ensemble, Soundscapes & Works For Radio (2002)
Glenn Astarita
Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.A native of Sydney Australia, composer Roberto Iolini comes across as some sort of new age renaissance man on this segmented production, consisting of works that strangely interconnect, yet remain somewhat different in scope. The title of this outing pretty much sums up the rather diverse sequence of events as the artist presents the listener with pieces broken into variable formats and genres. On the opener, and one of the Works For Radio titled “Edwin Armstrong” (the inventor of Frequency Modulation), Iolini utilizes short wave radio samples, grand piano/piano samples, and hallowed voices. Needless to state, Iolini creates eerily abstract statements, whereas the works titled, “Congo, Zimbabwe,” Lingo Babel,” and “Whyitiso,” are quaintly organized chamber-jazz style affairs. And while some of this might seem a bit eccentric, many of these sequences contain lilting themes amid an air of romanticism via the musicians’ conveyance of multi-layered panoramas.
”City In Between” features Michele Morgan’s vocals, in concert with Iolini’s samples of machine gun fire, cymbals, percussion, and various sounds. No doubt, there’s a lot going on throughout these slightly crazed scenarios, as Iolini’s brainchild shines forth as a deeply personalized statement. Although slightly asymmetrical by design, there appears to be a germane flow that filters through the entire program. Recommended.
North American distribution by Cuneiform Records
Track Listing: 1.Edwin Armstrong 2.Congo 3.Zimbabwe 4.Lingo Babel 5.Whyitiso 6.City In Between 7.Secrets 8.Breaking The Seal 9.Anti-Apocalypse
Personnel: Roberto Iolini: composition, sample editing, performance, production, midi guitar, sampler, digital editing
Record Label: ReR Megacorp | Style: Electronica
Roberto Iolini Profile | Follow Roberto Iolini Also at
