I’m pleased to present Orghanon’s fourth album, a captivating creation from Italian solo artist Sergio Calzoni. Many readers may already recognize Calzoni from his involvement in other acclaimed projects like Iluiteq and Act Noir. With this release, he ventures into the Cinematic realm once more, but this time blends it seamlessly with elements of Electronic minimalism and pure Downtempo. The slow, sensual rhythms invite listeners into a dreamlike, floating soundscape that feels both accessible and immersive. Subtle darker undertones emerge throughout the album, offering a welcome contrast and depth to the compositions. While distinct from Iluiteq, this work is equally fascinating revealing a compelling journey from start to finish. This album is sure to resonate with fans of evocative and atmospheric music. (Rating:8).

Listen to “Sharashka”:

About Orghanon

Orghanon is the solo project of Sergio Calzoni, a producer and musician from Ferrara, Italy, active since the nineties in outfits including Act Noir, Colloquio and Iluiteq. The project’s stated aim is instrumental music with a cinematographic appeal, built mainly from electronics with sparse guitar and acoustic instruments. Its Bandcamp catalog includes “Figures In Slow Motion”, “Retrospectre” and “Kairos”.

With Iluiteq, Calzoni released the 2023 album “Reflection From The Road” and collaborated with Lorenzo Montanà on the 2024 ambient album “Katà Métron”. “Future In Motion”, written and produced by Calzoni, was released on August 22, 2024 by the Bulgarian label Mahorka and is the album reviewed here.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

The Italian ambient duo ILUITEQ has collaborated with Bologna-based producer Lorenzo Montanà to create the Greek Mythology-inspired album “Katà Métron”. The album is set to be released by the Oakland based label n5MD on March 8th. It will be available on limited edition white vinyl and is now preordering at n5MD’s Bandcamp as well as their global presale partners Norman Records (UK), Deejay.de (EU), and Linus Records (JP).

ILUITEQ is an ambient music project founded by Sergio Calzoni and Andrea Bellucci. They have released several albums under various monikers and bands such as Red Sector A, Subterranean Source, Orghanon, and Colloquio. They use a mix of of sampling and synthesis techniques with parts of electric guitar, acoustic piano, and field recordings.

Lorenzo Montanà is an Italian soundtrack composer, sound engineer, and producer. His 2019 “The Threshold of Beauty” collaboration with Alio Die was Projekt’s most successful release of 2021,. Montanà started in the 90s, producing and arranging more than 40 albums across the electronic, ambient, IDM, jazz, classical, and rock genres. He released his first solo album (“Black Ivy”, 2009) and the 5-CD Labyrinth collaboration series with Pete Namlook on the label FAX +49-69/450464. His work as soundtrack composer landed in the trailer of “The Hunger Games 1 & 2”, “Blade Runner 2049”, “Coriolanus”, and more.

n5MD is an independent record label based in Oakland, California . The label primarily releases electronic music which focuses more on melody and emotion but also now releases music in compatible genres such as shoegaze, post-rock, IDM and electro-acoustic.

Check out a first preview below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

Electronic-ambient project Iluiteq is back with an all new album “Reflection From The Road”, out via Oakland based label n5MD on February 17th.

Loosely inspired by the book “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy, Iluiteq’s fourth album, “Reflections From The Road”, expands the novel’s theme, where human beings are overwhelmed by an ordeal that completely changes the course of their lives.

Here is the videoclip of the first single “In Danger”.

About Iluiteq

Iluiteq is an ambient music project founded by Sergio Calzoni and Andrea Bellucci, well known musicians within the Italian experimental ambient scene, with several albums released under various monikers and bands such as Red Sector A, Subterranean Source, Orghanon, Colloquio.

With the Iluiteq project the duo explores the many facets of ambient-electronic music. All the tracks have been conceived with a unique palette of sound timbres, making use of a wide range of sampling and synthesis techniques. Their sound is further enhanced by parts of electric guitar, acoustic piano, and field recordings.

The project’s debut album “Soundtracks For Winter Departures” was released in 2018 by the English label TXT Recordings. Shortly afterwards, The Ambient Zone/Just Music released the EP “No Longer Know (follow the light mix)”. At the beginning of 2020 the 5 CD compilation boxset “Nagual 5” was released by TXT Recordings, featuring four new Iluiteq tracks.

In 2021 the duo joined the Oakland based label n5MD and shortly afterwards released their sophomore album “The Loss of Wilderness”. During the same year Iluiteq collaborated with the art design company Lucid Creates, providing background music for their installation “Together”. In May 2022, the new album “The Light Inside, The Dark Outside” was released.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

The 9th track on our free download compilation “Face The Beat: Session 4” (featuring 92 tracks) is by the Italian act Bukser. After the dark electro assaults, this act brings the IDM into the compilation with an outstanding track (“Replicant”) reminding of the best from Mnemonic and related great bands.

Bukser is the more upbeat and “catchy” project of Sergio Calzoni, an Italian producer and musician active since the nineties in various music endeavors (Alma Mater, Act Noir, Colloquio, Orghanon). His previous projects were always a delight to discover and so is the case with this one.

The aim of this project is to explore uncommon music territories, where elements of synth-pop, IDM, dub and glitch sounds blend together. Through this project Sergio Calzoni also released several tunes for television and video synchronizations. You can find some more of his work on his Soundcloud page.

For now listen to or download this excellent track.

Check our “Face The Beat: Session 4” page on Bandcamp to discover the other 91 bands. All donations will go to charity.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, ambient, IDM.

Content: Orghanon is a solo-project set up by Sergio Calzoni. You maybe know this artist for his involvement in bands like Alma Mater, Act Noir and especially Colloquio.

A solo-work always reflects to me a more intimate approach and that’s definitely an item when discovering “Figures In Slow Motion.” The opening track, which was released as a single, “Gone” is lust for the ears. Orghanon reveals a fascinating and mainly intelligent electro approach made of dark tones and an explicit ambient touch.

The ambient style rules over this work, which makes me speak about a cinematographic format. The entire album would be perfectly suited as soundtrack for a movie and/or documentary.

There’s a great progression in the writing of the songs while the low cadence makes it all very accessible. You sometimes get the impression of getting lost in a dark abyssal voyage (cf. “Ultra”).

Some piano arrangements (cf. “Far”) bring us back to pure soundtrack experiences, which also reveal meticulous, but minimal treatments.

“Hiatus” which was released as new single, is one of the most poignant cuts of the work. The progression running through this song is absolutely remarkable for the empowering cadence and overwhelming sound waves, which especially come through in the final part. But this opus clearly sounds like it was released for the unique purpose of a soundtrack and that’s also the way this album ends with “Nilskor.”

An interesting detail about this work is the use of some vocal samplings taken from other, and sometimes noticeable releases. I here especially refer to a sampling of Christian Wolz that was used on “Far.”

Conclusion: This work sounds like an ambient sound caress made of subtle arrangements, slow rhythms and fascinating atmospheres.

Best songs: “Hiatus,” “Gone,” “Ultra,” “Far.”

Rate: (DP:8)DP.

Band: www.orghanon.com / www.facebook.com/orghanon

Label: www.eibonrecords.com / www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Eibon-Records/113898028620718

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com