MAURIZIO BIANCHI & TH26

"Arkaeo Planum"

SmallVoices - 2006

CD

Maurizio Bianchi, pioneer of Italian degenerated electronics and worldwide recognized underground legend, is currently undergoing a new period of intense creative energy and abundant discography releases, both as solo and in collaboration with various other international sound-artists and noise-makers. This time it's another Italian electronic weaver's turn to work shoulder to shoulder with him, along the six evocative tracks of this brand-new "Arkaeo Planum": TH26. The concept is rather obscure, as it has always been wherever MB has been involved, but the music itself is more than enough to appreciate this enigmatic journey among desolated landscapes and rhythmic rituals.

The intriguing cover artwork, created by the excellent P³ Studio in Andria, Italy, reminds of those arcane specular images and optical tricks seen in the second half of the 1980s on Cranioclast's classic LP sleeves. The German band seems to be evoked also by some passages in the music, especially in the final, desolated acoustic manipulation of "MB Sorrow", or inside the ghostly movements of "Audio Planum", but just as a distant impression. The scene is dominated by TH26's deep slow-motioned beats (in the central tracks "Caro Planum" e "Terra Planum") and Maurizio's ice-cold soundscapes, particularly effective in the opening "Aereo Planum" and the title-track.

To fully appreciate the magmatic atmospheres of "Arkaeo Planum", a complete listening of the CD is strongly recommended, as well as headphones to catch the most distant and minimal sounds. In the sea of MB releases unleashed in the last years, this is probably one of the most interesting, recommended especially to the cultists of the legendary pioneer's subtler and most introspective side.

- Simon V.

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