Nheap: Flying And The Silence

Nheap is the nom de musique of Assisi-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Massimo Discepoli. More specifically, it's the title under which he records and releases his own experimental, jazz-influenced compositions (he records his more electronic, club-oriented, music as Nheap XP). Flying And The Silence is the fifth album under the Nheap name since Discepoli started the project in 2007. The jazz influence is not too obvious—Alice Coltrane might well inform the overall vibe, but experimental rock bands like Tangerine Dream seem to be equally important touchstones. Whatever or whoever might be responsible for the foundations of Discepoli's approach, his music is beautifully-crafted and richly-textured.

This is a melodic and engaging collection of tunes. In keeping with the album's cover and most of the song titles there's a calm and bucolic feel to the music—nothing dark or nightmarish threatens the serenity. There's a warmth to the music too, helped to a large extent by Discepoli's talent for combining the different instruments in ways which create a welcoming, friendly sound.

The instrumental line-up might suggest that the sound of the various keyboards would predominate. In fact, it's Discepoli's drum kit that is most often at the center of the music. This key role for acoustic percussion has much to do with the organic quality of the work. Around this center, Discepoli mixes different combinations of guitars, keyboards and synthesizers.

Each combination creates its own imagery, from the dreamscapes of "Origin Of Water" and "Half-Asleep" to the mystery of "Expressionism At Night," the soulful groove of "Flying And The Silence" (which contains a perfectly-judged mix of guitar and drums) and the meditative electronica of "Recurring Dream."