NichelOdeon/InSonar & Relatives
INCIDENTI-Lo Schianto

Claudio Milano is a composer, vocal researcher, painter, and music therapist. We are undoubtedly in the presence of a 360-degree artist who has explored the possibilities of the voice much like the great Demetrio Stratos. His new album, titled INCIDENTI-Lo Schianto, attributed to his project NichelOdeon/InSonar & Relative, has just been released. This is the fourth album from NichelOdeon. In an ironic manner, Claudio Milano writes in the accompanying notes about how INCIDENTI-Lo Schianto risks becoming "the greatest failure of Snowdonia," the record label releasing it. This seems a somewhat pessimistic and over-the-top statement, and perhaps not entirely sincere (intelligently masking the artist's ego). I don't know how many copies this album will sell; I hope many, although I believe they will be few, but this music, though beautiful, really risks becoming part of the "niche of the niche." Just to be clear, if you like avant-garde music and research, you will find something you’re looking for. In one track ("This Order"), there's even a reference to Jargon King, and the mind goes (though I might be mistaken) to Peter Hammill and his Black Box. Indeed, he is a great fan of the Van Der Graaf Generator! In reality, beyond my preamble, this music is more accessible than one might expect. We are not faced with a work of sterile and empty experimentation that usually only succeeds in driving away the audience. The settings are cold, based on the dialogues between Erica Scherl's violin and Evaristo Casonato's winds. Those who loved the more cerebral and avant-garde Italian prog (like that of early Battiato, Opus Avantra, Pierrot Lunaire, and Area) should appreciate this. Clearly, it's still a challenging album, but I assure you it's worth making the effort. In the end, the rewards will be guaranteed, and you will be rewarded, I assure you. Among the collaborators, we find Paolo Tofani (here are the Area making an appearance), Vincenzo Zitello, and Laura Catrani. At times, it feels like listening to a chamber music symphony. The genres undergo a devastating shock treatment where they are composed and recomposed. We can thus hear influences of electronic music, jazz, and folk: the final result is truly surprising and original. If you love music that goes beyond empty labels, give this album a chance, I assure you that you won't regret it. Available on Spotify.

Web: https://claudiomilano.bandcamp.com/