Fennesz
Venice

Viennese Christian Fennesz is one of the prominent figures in the realm of minimal electronic exploration, otherwise known as "glitch," among whose current exponents we find Four Tet, Lali Puna, and the artists of Morr Music.

Fennesz's fame dates back to the first half of the ‘90s, when he released the albums Instrument (1995), Hotel Paral.lel (1997), and Endless Summer (2001) under the Mego label, works that immediately gained the approval of industry insiders. Indeed, many have made use of his sonic magic: Jim O’Rourke, Peter "Pita" Rehberg, and the Mimeo collective, and above all, David Sylvian, for whom Fennesz collaborated on the electronic parts of the album Blemish. For me, the most moving track from Sylvian’s latest work is "A Fire In The Forest," precisely the one where Fennesz prevails with the enchantments that arise from his bewitched laptop.

Now it is time for Venice, released under Touch. Shadowy this album, inspired by the rarefied atmospheres of Venice. Fennesz states in an interview: "I believe Venice has a very special sound. Something similar to a distant murmur… a mixture of voices, water, wind. I once read that the population of Venice has always been able to face calamities elegantly."

Elegance: that is what attracts. Venice is wrapped in a gracefully refined quest in the use of guitar harmonies, which Fennesz electronically reprocesses and presents in an individual and enchanting attitude. Minimal soundscapes, thus, traversed by a subtle dry, vibrant, and luminescent droning vein like an ancient lamp post reflected in the water. Here, natural sounds like rain or the sea lapping against a boat's hull are filtered through metaphysical electro-alchemies to finally achieve an unforeseen rhythmic essentiality.

Among the guests, we find David Sylvian, whose heartfelt words and voice on "Transit" ("…follow me, won't you follow me?") deepen the collaboration between these two artists, bound in a loyal friendship that will soon yield further fruits. Gentle yet rigorous, Venice tackles the tides and waves of the soul, accompanying the listener on a light, unsettling, and nostalgic journey. Great class.

Very intimate and subtle is the path of these twelve ambient-portraits. Not suited for everyone, but only for those who have the courage to delve within without haste.