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Untitled Winter |
Matteo Uggeri: Untitled Winter
REVIEWS
Massimo Ricci, Touching Extreme Several reasons were identified to vindicate my unmediated liking of Untitled Winter. Instrumentally speaking, one has to love the way single voices unfold – with no hurry – in conjunction with loops of uncertain provenance. The melodies and the geometries they depict are rather basic, yet deep enough to sustain involvement while causing a modicum of emotional consequence. A factor of aural contentment is the use of field recordings with a distinct compositional awareness, as opposed to the usual “filling material” formulation. Echoes of realness appear with a purpose, then fade away leaving us asking “why”; before the “because” has come, the scene has probably shifted elsewhere. And so, hesitation lingers on in spite of the continuance of an inward-looking calmness. Neither minimalism – at least in the strictest acceptation – nor pure improvisation (although I’m sure there is some), a plausible explanation might be connected to the act of surrendering to the stream of unclear images and ineffable soundtracks lulling us to grogginess in the rare moments of kept-under-check tensions. By any means do not treat it as wallpaper, and listen. http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2014/05/matteo-uggeri/ Mick Buckingham, Fluid Radio Like fish, Matteo Uggeri’s “Untitled Winter” LP is brain food. And like a fish, it travels through an ocean of ultramundane frequencies. The instruments and their players – Uggeri plays trumpet, while an illustrious list is to be found on the Scissor Tail Editions Bandcamp – swim amongst the type of meditative, floaty state that none of us ever really feel, and it makes for a fascinating listen. A key component of Uggeri’s ensemble’s success is that they utilise space as an onion, unwrapping layers of flummoxed pacing and graceful re-shaping of the source material. A track may stop on a chord and repeat a while, or it may drastically careen away from its original intent in a blink of a second. This never-knowing, never pre-ordained sequencing is very refreshing and intriguing, as if you’ve not heard anything quite like it. The roots are in rotting improv music – sparse lines cohering into a bigger whole; a steak left to fester its bacteria in the midday sun, like no-one else wanted it in its past life. Much of the importance held by the listener on Uggeri’s non-compositonal, instrument playing contribution becomes righted in eigth track, “Untitled III”, where he hums out spellbinding trumpet moxie that unravels over sounds of footsteps and the nearby wind. The percussion piece that follows, “Solfeggio No 33″ sees synthesiser being added to the brew of previous viola, cello, guitar and piano (work 2 is a seeming tribute to “Spiegel Im Spiegel” by contemporary classical composer Arvo Part, being aptly titled “Spiegel Ics Spiegel”). It’s one of the most immediately digestible tracks on the release, harmonising with ambient’s will ‘o the wisp, genteel droning and extra-generific potion summoning. It would also appear, like aquamarine mammals, that Matteo favours metamorphosis over set ways, a sorcerer with a bent to extemporise the present. “Tender Is The Night”, the closing cut is barely there, a field recording of setting down something or another; pen on a table; footsteps on study floor. It marks the mood of the record in an inscripted ink, but unlike a fish of jelly, the movements of this album are never a stinging sensation. Winter is welcoming for once. http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2014/05/matteo-uggeri/ Raffaello Russo, Music Won't Save You Non è certo un mistero la sensibile percezione della natura sottostante alle creazioni sonore di Matteo Uggeri, né che il suo paesaggismo ambientale trovi florido terreno di ispirazione in contesti atmosferici invernali. Proprio all’inverno è infatti dedicata fin dal titolo la prima opera sulla lunga distanza, integralmente accreditata al compositore milanese, che pure vanta una copiosa discografia in qualità di polistrumentista degli Sparkle In Grey e di artefice di numerose collaborazioni. Quello raccolto in “Untitled Winter” è tuttavia materiale risalente a circa un lustro addietro, al quale oggi viene data forma organica in dieci tracce che mantengono fede all’idea in continua trasformazione della materia sonora di Uggeri. Il lavoro appare così l’ideale narrazione di un viaggio, di un percorso colto nel momento stesso dei suoi singoli, quasi impercettibili, movimenti, dati da fonti auditive di frequente natura acusmatica e comunque tratte da field recordings, archi, fiati e pianoforte. Ne risulta una varia galleria di composizioni di natura e durata eterogenea, dalla sinfonia ipnotica dell’iniziale compenetrazione atmosferica “We Are The Fog” (oltre dieci minuti) al cadenzato minimalismo pianistico di “Spiegel Ics Spiegel”, dalle tremule screziature elettro-acustiche di “Pillow Talk pt. II” e “Untitled I” alle ambientazioni cameristiche di “Zadar” e jazzy di “Solfeggio Nº 33”. Eppure, il tutto appare connotato da un comune denominatore costituito dall’accurata giustapposizione di elementi e tecniche compositive da parte di Uggeri, che riesce a riassumere le matrici sonore prescelte in bozzetti atmosferici colti in tutta la loro magia fragile e fuggevole. Raffaello Russo, Vital Weekly Matteo Uggeri lives and works in Milan – Italy - and is member of the experimental post-rock group Sparkle in Grey and releases also solo albums of albums in cooperation with other musicians. The album Untitled Winter is released by Scissor Tail Records from the USA. The atmosphere of the album is warm and comfortable. He recorded this album during the long winter of 2009 and was assisted by viola by Franz Krostopovic, piano and guitars by Andrea Ics Ferraris, cello by Andrea Serrapiglio, drums by Mattia Costa and whispers by his wife Gaia. The intimate album is fragile, soft sounds and field-recordings are guided by moving guitar drones, on-going piano patterns and gliding cello melodies. The combination of neo-classical music, experimental electronics and field-recordings is beautiful. The music touches several elements of the musical landscape. The listener can focus on different layers and although I played the CD many times, I discover new elements or layers in the music. One moment the music leads you to the inner world by ongoing drones, the other moments the concrete sounds returns you to the "real world." The album ends with a track which is a beautiful combination of cold windy sounds guided by a trumpet and a drony ongoing sound. The following track is like a band, which is playing far away, somewhere at a great distance in the mind, as if the music keeps playing in your head. The album ends with the track "Tender is the Night" composed with some abstract concrete sounds as if someone prepares himself for going to sleep under the sheets. Matteo Uggeri surprises me again and this album is really a good guidance for a cold evening laying on the couch with a burning stove. http://www.vitalweekly.net/970.html Patrick McGinley, Framework Radio Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:00 — 131.2MB) autumn sounds for autumn weather, with a bit of winter foreshadowing from matteo uggeri. some new names to our playlists, with sounds from toca, grisha shakhnes, and masayuki imanishi, accompanied by old friends matteo, steve roden and jeremy hegge.we also announced the coming of framework:seasonal issue #7, winter 2014, the latest edition of our fund-raising compilation series. it will be officially released and shipped on the winter solstice, december 21st (well, ok, it will ship on the 22nd, since the 21st is a sunday), but we are taking pre-orders as of now, and all donations of 20€ or more between now and then will also be put down for one of the first copies. and of course all you subscribers will be receiving your copies automatically; i’ll be getting in touch soon to confirm your addresses. the final track-list will be announced soon, but needless to say it will feature a string of great artists all of whom are new names for the framework:seasonal series, new and old friends, all contributors to the program. there’s even still time for a wildcard or two – if you have a field recording related work you’d like to submit for this edition of framework:seasonal, send it on in quick as you can! again, we are always looking for new material, whether raw field recordings, field recording based composition, or introduction submissions. we are also now accepting proposals for full editions of our guest curated framework:afield series. send proposals or material, released or not, on any format, to the address at the bottom of this mail. if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch! [time / artist / track / album / label] 00:00 – 03:51 / jeremy hegge / framework introduction, recorded in australia 02:29 – 10:27 / steve roden / words in the shape of a tree / flower and water / dragon’s eye recordings 05:03 – 15:19 / matteo uggeri / we are the fog / untitled winter / scissor tails editions 10:51 – 19:45 / toca / istorias darcheba / – / – 17:31 – 28:49 / grisha shakhnes / so close to home [extract 1] / distance and decay / organised music from thessaloniki 22:12 – 41:25 / masayuki imanishi / glass+ / – / – 29:06 – 34:07 / steve roden / transparency (red) / flower and water / dragon’s eye recordings 31:36 – 39:52 / grisha shakhnes / so close to home [extract 2] / distance and decay / organised music from thessaloniki 31:59 – 39:59 / matteo uggeri / untitled I / untitled winter / scissor tails editions 38:15 – 48:07 / toca / hold your breath / – / – 45:00 – 52:08 / grisha shakhnes / concrete / distance and decay / organised music from thessaloniki 48:06 – 55:50 / steve roden / straightforwardness / flower and water / dragon’s eye recordings 49:47 – 56:37 / toca / jarts vibareb / – / – 53:37 – 57:00 / matteo uggeri / untitled III / untitled winter / scissor tails editions
Maurizio Incingoli, The New Noise Il musicista lombardo ha dalla sua una spiccata propensione per la trasversalità, e non si accontenta di fare sempre tutto da solo. Numerosi i progetti ai quali ha messo mano: tra i tanti, Sparkle In Grey, Der Einzige, notevole pure Pagetos coi sodali Giannico e Mauri, senza dimenticare la stima e la collaborazione di gente che sa il fatto proprio come Andrea “Ics” Ferraris (Luminance Ratio, Airchamber3). Sterili elenchi a parte, necessari però per meglio inquadrare il terreno nel quale si muove Uggeri, questo Untitled Winter (registrato qualche anno fa) ha catturato la mia attenzione sin dal primo distratto approccio. Credetemi, anche i dischi più interessanti a volte hanno bisogno di più prove d’ascolto, invece per questo non è andata così, ho insomma avuto subito la netta sensazione di trovarmi di fronte a un oggetto sonoro tanto sfaccettato quanto impenetrabile, qualità che apprezzo in maniera particolare (va aggiunto che bisogna essere pure del mood giusto, il lavoro è “torvo” parecchio). Ci sono lievi e fragili pianismi nella breve “Spiegel Ics Spiegel”, che ricorda chiaramente Arvo Pärt, non solo nel titolo, mentre l’apertura era per la suite ambient (sottilmente “minacciosa” a dire il vero) di “We Are The Fog”. Dicevamo della eterogeneità della proposta: il violoncello distorto di “Untitled I”, la chitarra “space” di Ferraris in “Pillow Talk Pt. II” (composizione piuttosto inquieta, questa, e con parlato in sottovoce che cattura l’attenzione), la tromba persa nell’etere di “Untitled III”, e via elencando. Voglio fermarmi qui, comunque, anche perché vi guasterei il viaggio che state per intraprendere, sempre se siete lesti, visto che il cd di Untitled Winter esce in sole cento copie cartonate per l’etichetta statunitense Scissor Tails Records, che tra le sue releases annovera la ristampa dello score di un piccolo capolavoro del cinema americano (regia di Peter Fonda) “The Hired Hand”, di Bruce Langhorne. Affrettatevi. Lucy, The Breakfast Jumpers Untitled Winter è l'album di Matteo Uggeri. Viaggio immaginifico intriso in suggestioni sonore tutte in fase di lento sgocciolamento. Trama intima colma di timide ma ripetitive inclusioni. Un'ossessione catartica nella replica di particolari, densa di significati connessi in un percorso/discorso, un fil rouge. http://breakfastjumpers.blogspot.it/ E., Das Kleinicum Leider weiß ich nicht mehr, wie ich auf matteo uggeri getroffen bin. der italiener hatte mich aber ziemlich schnell, ziemlich tief beeindruckt. verantwortlich dafür zeichnete sein aktueller release "untitled winter", welcher als erste offizielle veröffentlichung unter eigenem namen gelten kann, nachdem matteo zuvor allerhand kollaborationen beiwohnte oder unter anderem moniker aktiv wurde. auf "untitled winter" bietet uggeri eine so zahme wie tiefschürfende szenerie auf, dass es einem recht unheimlich werden kann. die intimität und konsequenz seines tonalen unterfangens ist ungeheuerlich. das sämige und doch unstrittige, weil zielgerichtete klangabenteuer hinterlässt spuren. die gesponnenen fäden ziehen sich noch lange durch die hirnwandungen des hörers. die malerischen landschaften, die nur sacht nach und nach getüncht werden, entstehen wie von selbst vor dem geistigen auge und bieten sich in mediativer weise dar. zehn tracks umfasst der release, welcher am 19. märz auf scissor tail veröffentlicht wurde. die beiden, man möchte sie haupttracks nennen, nehmen mit neun bzw. gut zehn minuten den meisten raum für sich in anspruch. der soundtüftler aus mailand sucht mit ihnen weniger den linearen fluss, als dass er bereit ist, ein delta vor den ohren seiner hörer auszubreiten. aus dem hauptarm erstrecken sich immer mehr nebenflüsse, so dass man auf wanderschaft an den ufern unterschiedlichster gewässer gehen kann. in der konsequenz aber erfolgt rückführung zum strom, zum einst aufgenommenen thema. neben der laptoparbeit des hauptakteurs kommen piano, gitarre, drums, cello, trompete und orgel seiner mitstreiter zum einsatz. der organische sound ist bei aller spröde die eigentliche überraschung und verhilft dem release zu besonderer größe. zur biografischen ergänzung sei angefügt, dass matteo mit dem kollektiv meerkat an ambienten strukturen arbeitete, an concret music mit m.b. oder fhievel, an ebm mit telepherique, an elektroakustischem mit andrea ferraris und mujika easel und anderen sowie an folk mit bob corn. daneben ist er mitglied der vier mann band sparkle in grey. wenn er nicht unter eigenem namen aktiv wird, kann man ihn auch als der einzige oder hue zu gehör bekommen. http://dasklienicum.blogspot.it/2014/04/neue-tone-1380-matteo-uggeri.html FFFoxy Podcast #34: Scissor Tail Editions feature, Free Form Freackout On this episode of the FFFoxy Podcast we focused in on the work of Scissor Tail Editions out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a label that deals in mostly experimental, drone, and folk sounds and that has released music by some favorites of ours here on the show, including Nathan McLaughlin and Josh Mason. In addition to playing a bunch of music from the Scissor Tail Editions catalog, we also spoke with Dylan Aycock, who, along with running the label, also records raw experimental folk-based music of his own under his given name and as Talk West, the latter of which he has a terrific new album out as on the great Preservation label called Black Coral Sprig. Aycock has also collaborated with other Tulsa musicians, including Digitalis main man Brad Rose in Mohawk Park and Angel Food, and in another project called Golden Pawn. We touched on all of these various pursuits throughout the course of our conversation with Dylan. Check out the Scissor Tail Editions website for more information and to order some of their many fine releases. Robin Allender “Esplanade” from Foxes in the Foyer LP (ST14) http://www.freeformfreakout.com/fffoxy-podcast-34-scissor-tail-editions-feature/ Lorenzo Salmi, HMCF Chi non ama l’inverno, alzi la mano. No, a te non ti credo. Si è vero, necessitiamo del sole, è bella la spiaggia, mi ricordo mamma sotto all’ombrellone e tutto il solito bla bla bla che rispunta fuori una volta all’anno. No sono serio, chi non ama, anche solo per un secondo, l’inverno? Il suono delicato della neve che cade dal cielo, il freddo che ti sferza le guance, le mani che ti tremano, lo sguardo che si perde in una domenica nella pianura padana. Io ne sono sicuro che tu, anche solo per un secondo, anche solo se quel momento fosse durante il Natale, hai pensato a quanto fosse pacifico l’inverno. Ecco, in quel secondo, allora, è come se avessi avuto come sottofondo una delle dieci tracce del disco di Matteo UggeriUntitled Winter, significa qualcosa che racconta di te. Suoni, rumori, distrazioni, momenti, secondi indelebili del tuo inverno che come ogni anno per cinque mesi almeno (colpa dell’effetto serra) t’abbraccia con il suo torpore. E a noi questo silenzio sincopato non può che piacerci. Eyestrain, Special Interests Fejhed - Fejhed (Chondritic Sound): Surprised to have not seen this mentioned yet; Jesse from Hoax and Miss Puce Mary in collaboration. Unsurprisingly, there's a definite praise of the titans of German PE, although, this time, it isn't the most obvious references. I'd be so bold as to say that this is greater than either artist's regarded works. Good stuff! Dylan, Scissor Tails Edition (the label who issued it) Matteo Uggeri is an Italian musician and sound artist based in Milan. What he's constructed here is an extremely intimate story line. Matteo is a master of setting a scene and carrying the listener into nonexistent interiors and exteriors of his own creation. Reoccurring themes tie the already seamless tracks together culminating into one long meditative piece. Throughout the album a feeling grows of great gratitude for the night time hours when the only gears left turning are those of your own creation. http://www.scissortailrecords.com/2014/02/matteo-uggeri-untitled-winter-cd.html |
