'Italian sound-sculptor Antonio Testa creates a series of sonic environments that are often suggestive of found sound or musical representations of wondrous places. The listener is inclined to envision the musician working in low light somewhere below ground in harmony with his space, each taking equal part: artist and expanse. Softly clanging chimes are scattered against bird song and water movement, a low drone even and measured permeating everything. Meditative evolving strains are rippled by unidentifiable sonorous percussives, almost rhythmic. Reverberating fluids, spills and streams run across smooth synthetic textures. Turbulence gently heaves whilst a soft female voice speaks. We even get to hear Rahien Testa's first cry on the opening eponymous track. The impression is one of timelessness; ancient simplicity against contemporary clarity. The gear list includes stalagmites and field recordings as well as contributions from fellow musicians Alio Die (samples, textures, drones, soundscapes from Thailand), Susana Beatriz Alvear and Maurizio Dall'olio (voice), Daniela Risser (crystal bowls) and others.INFRAMUNDIS, meaning inland "universe" in Latin, is the latest in a considerable discography from percussionist Antonio Testa. Antonio's website points out that he "specializes in organic sound and the creation of musical atmospheres through the use of a vast array of mostly native and shamanic instruments, together with his own creations made from organic and recycled materials". This interest is clearly evident on this recording, which is primarily a musical research into stalagmite and stalactite sounds mixed with textures and drones. Stefano Musso shares in four of the ten recordings. INFRAMUNDIS is surely an album that will appeal to fans of Alio Die. Very meditative and evocative, this CD is one for experimental sound lovers looking for something with an exotic edge, or cavern music without the cold isolationist tone employed by other subterranean explorations. - Steve Roach'
Tracklist
1 Rahièn 7:46
Voice [First Cry] – Rahièn Testa
2 Xibalbà 5:46
3 Inframundis 8:22
4 Moon 5:30
5 Natural Stoned 5:16
6 Pachamama 6:32
Lyrics By [Poetry] – Vincenzo Morgillo
Voice – Susana Beatriz Alvear
7 Celestium 8:09
8 The Cave 4:31
Singing Bowls [Crystal Bowls] – Daniela Risser
9 Asmaghiti
Synthesizer – Lupo Pasini 3:29
Voice, Singing Bowls [Dobaci] – Maurizio Dall'Olio
10 Stalagmite 10:24
Credits
Artwork – Sara Luciani
Mastered By, Photography By [All Other Photos By] – Andrey Faryus
Percussion, Other [Stalagmites], Synth [Synths], Electronics [Textures And Drones], Field Recording [Field Recordings From Italy], Written-By, Producer [Produced By] – Antonio Testa
Photography By [Cover Photo] – Enrico Labriola
Recorded By, Mixed By, Edited By – A. Testa
Sampler [Samples], Electronics [Textures, Drones], Field Recording [Thai Soundscapes] – Alio Die (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 7)
Notes
Inframundis (inland universe, latin) is a research of stalagmites and stalagtites sounds mixed with textures and drones; It’s a meditative record and it creates a balance between biosphere and technosphere. The cd gets free all its energies, its little/big sounds, its hidden atmospheres, and microharmonies.
The sounds, music, make us come back to the past, offering us the view of a World. The sound evokes angelical moments between the imperceptible evolution of the sound of the sky and the ethnic roots, natural instrumental sounds creating atmospheres which evoke in our imaginary visions and images of the most far places. It is an alchemic project of ancestral sounds. Deeply rooted in our unconscious.
Artwork conception was created by Sara Luciani, release contain several cards and double side cover.
Cover photo by Enrico Labriola, www.enricolabriola.com
Limited edition of 500 pieces, FAR-14, 2007
