Collective Anthesis

“Eleven Columns” evolves progressively, starting with the ethereal vocalizations performed by the Canadian Tanya K. Sherman. Between vintage Electronic and IDM, it begins with a constant crescendo that builds tension until the release of the beat halfway through the track. From there, we are transported by a beam of cosmic particles into the unknown. As fascinating as it is dangerous, this is how the album Collective Anthesis begins.

Marked by its slow, essential, and resolute beat, “My Thoughts” navigates between Downtempo and the electronic sounds of the 2000s. The vocal part, performed by Giusanna Gaffeo, rides the wave of Trip-Hop with a brief text that explores thought as an opportunity to escape reality. The space where imagination and reality meet is precious for artists because that’s where art takes shape.

“Cold Wind” offers sounds of 90s Electronica, thanks to the bass line written and performed by Stefano Crocini, enriching the track with reverberated guitars inspired by Pink Floyd. The lyrics, performed by Alessia Turcato, metaphorically address thoughts and concerns that can invade the mind like a cold wind. The melancholic themes recall Trip-Hop, while rhythm and synthesizer testify to the strong bond between Resonanz Kreis and the sounds of his beloved Depeche Mode.

“The Snake” transports the listener on an expedition into the heart of an ancestral jungle in search of the Ouroboros, the snake that devours its own tail, a symbol present in multiple ancient cultures representing, among other things, the infinite natural cycle and transformation. Relaxed and familiar situations alternate with tense moments of an esoteric nature, almost marking the endless flow of epochs and the oscillation of life cycles, where everything transforms. Michele Mastrotto, with his Tabla, Handpan, and Psaltery, adds a Worldbeat touch, alternating melodic and traditional tones with eventful and instinctive ones, emphasizing the cinematic appeal of synthesizers.

In a technological world that increasingly shortens distances and offers more means of communication, “Everything Nothing” reflects the inability to be understood or, at least, heard. With its pseudo-English lyrics, it seems to express something important, but it does so only through the tones of the voice and the atmosphere of the musical part: the real meaning of the words is unknown, just as it is uncertain to find someone who truly understands us in this world where we are all closer but always farther apart. In addition to vocals, the MATCHLESS duo (Miriam and Liliana Neglia) adds an extra touch of experimentation, giving the track IDM tones in a sequence of different evolutions. Different as the opinions and interpretations of the meaning of words can be.

“Intelligence Translation” takes advantage of the talent of pianist and composer Dario Rodighiero to provide a richly atmospheric Downtempo electronic sound. The harmonies captivate the listener and accompany them on an engaging journey between the gentle and the profound. Interlacing with simple electronic rhythms and synthesizer harmonies, delay and reverb effects interlace patterns that help us go into quite psychedelic atmospheres. Just enough to lift the listener from the chair to a higher metaphysical state, guided by music that is a pure expression of the greatness of human intelligence. Art represents a language capable of clearly translating abstract concepts and complex emotions without using words.

“Art Is Paranoia” is an electronic track with IDM influences featuring rapper and composer Arsen Palestini, who wrote and performed the lyrics. The song describes the dark side of being a musician, revealing the paranoias that arise in the mind of an emerging artist on the path to notoriety.
Creating and presenting original music takes time and money, with rehearsals, theoretical study, practice, self-promotion, equipment purchase and maintenance. In the subtle line between entertainment and art, hobby and work, “Art is Paranoia” reveals that the life of a musician is not always as simple as one might imagine. The concern that there will be enough audience at their events is more than justified, considering the skills, commitment, feelings, time, and money required to bring their performance to a stage.

“October Peace” is an instrumental Downtempo electronic track that borrows some sounds from Trip-Hop and IDM. With its enigmatic atmosphere, almost like the soundtrack of an ’80s mystery film, it serves as an interlude before the concluding part of the album. Somehow, it’s the track most stylistically connected to Resonanz Kreis’s previous works and was first released alongside “Eleven Columns” in the “Kreisform” compilation: a limited edition Digital Pressing of 25 copies, available on the serenade.co platform.

“Drowning” is an introspective electronic track with Trip-Hop, Downtempo, and Experimental influences; the lyrics are written and performed by Mirka Valente. The song is about the concept of lies. Often, we lie, or we are somewhat forced to do so to live in this society. The problem is that when we get used to hiding inside armor, behind a mask, we lie to ourselves. Over time, it becomes a perfectly functioning/functional automatic mechanism that, by distancing us from our being, turns out to be a total waste of time in terms of personal growth and affirmation. A confrontation with the mirror, an invitation to self-awareness, and shedding burdens approaching our path with our vulnerabilities to avoid drowning in regret for not having “said the right words to the right one at the right time”.

Made in collaboration with Future Sound Of Conco, the electronic collective led by the producers Bob Rage and Peanuke (Roberto and Paolo Bonato), “If A Tree Falls” closes the album with ethereal atmospheres, mysticism, and philosophy. The track opens with the notorious question posed by George Berkeley: “If a tree in a forest falls and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”: this question makes us wonder whether the world around us is a reality that exists independently of us or just a construct of our brain. A question that serves to meditate on things but also to develop the proper sensitivity not to fall into the verbal traps of rhetoric. Stylistically, it is a Downtempo track with an organic sound, playing with atmospheres, including evocative synths, psychedelic guitar samples, dub delays, and Trip-Hop-evoking beats. All are accompanied by the vocalizations performed by Tanya K. Sherman, in a progressive development that culminates with the entrance of a traditional Gaelic choir using aleatory techniques inspired by Celtic vocal traditions.