By rik ping things Have I ever had anything bad to say about Bruno Sanfilippo? I don't think so. I've enjoyed all of his releases over the last few years, and I'm quite sure that he gets better with every disc that comes out. Which brings me to his latest collaborative work with Mathias Grassow, 'Cromo', an excellent follow up to their earlier disc 'Ambessence Piano and Drones'. Like it's predecessor, 'Cromo' uses processed piano and deep drones combined with a few sparse elements to create very appealing and satisfying aural environments. It's a fine example of artists working together and it shouldn't surprise anyone that I think it's brilliant. 'Cromo Piano & Drones 1' begins the disc with a steady drone that plays throughout the track. A familiar piano melody floats into the track, bringing to mind previous work from Sanfilippo, moving the piece along in a slowly flowing stream. It's a subtle piece, a beautiful example of the work that Sanfilippo and Grassow do together, and a wonderful introduction to the rest of the disc. 'Cromo Piano & Drones 2' follows, a deep warm drone paired with sparse piano to add colour to the soundfield. For this track the drone provides a sense of movement rather than Sanfilippo's piano playing, making for an interesting shift in sonic dynamics. The end result is a very nicely enveloping musical space, a very appealing environment for the listener. 'Cromo Piano & Drones 3' has an air of mystery about it, a feeling of urgency and fear that permeates the track to it's core. It's an interesting use of sonics, as the root drone in the track is able to convey a strong sense of expansion and development, and of tension and movement despite minimal shifts in tone. A really great example of soundshaping from two masters of the art. 'Cromo Piano & Drones 4' starts with an oscillating drone, a spiraling sound that weaves throughout the soundfield. It works nicely on a primal level, evoking an emotional response in the listener as it continues. The track slowly builds and sounds shift in a fluid way as time passes, with more effected elements added to the mix, moving the soundscape from a natural state to a haunted automated place. Impressive. 'Cromo Piano & Drones 5' pairs a steady drone with unprocessed piano resulting in a wonderfully thick space-y track where tones twinkle and shimmer beautifully. As time passes the track eventually turns inward, shifting from outer space to inner space, eventually breaking down into a subtle and sparse environment deep with emotion. Probably my favorite track on the disc. 'Cromo Piano & Drones 6' employs deep, dark piano chords, a somber minor key melody laying the groundwork for a larger piece. A thick bass-y drone fills out the space of the song and as time progresses moods shift and sounds become more expressive. A lovely track to end the disc. It shouldn't come as a surprise that I'm quite fond of 'Cromo', indeed I think it stands up as some of the best work I've heard form Sanfilippo and Grassow, both collaboratively and as solo artists. You owe it to yourself to check this one out, whether you're a long-time fan of either artist or you're new to either of their work. Certainly one of my favorite releases of the year so far.
