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!

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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!

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Genre/Influences: Cinematographic, Dark-Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Ellipsis” is the third album ever released by this Italian project driven by Andrea Bellucci –who’s more knows for his involvement with Red Sector A and an endless number of projects like Dioxide, Nerva, Vetropaco, QOD ao. “Ellipsis” is the first new work in thirteen years and a rather special one as it features five tracks, which have been composed with five other artists. The title of the album refers to ‘cyclical themes or events in life and how we face these situations in a similar way.’

Content:  Paolo L. Bandera (Sigillum S ao), New Risen Throne, Exit In Grey, Nimh and Lunar Abyss Deus Organum contributed in chronological order to the work. The tracks are rather different from each other and yet connected by the Dark-Ambient plus Cinematographic approach of the composition. From icy atmospheres supported with field recordings to an organ sound in the background to the very explicit, dreamy guitar, this work has a lot to offer.

+ + + : I was especially impressed by the numerous details and sonic welfare of this work. You better use headphones to experience the impressive sonic canvas this album has been made with. There’s a perfect harmony between electronics and field recordings. “Oblivion” featuring Exit In Grey (Russian project) is a poignant cut that has something sacred because of the organ play in the background while the track goes over the 15 minutes. Another noticeable cut is “Ocean Chants & Ghosts” featuring Nimh. The guitar playing on this song creates a dreamy darkness.

– – – : I personally expected a bit more out of the collaboration with New Risen Throne, which I consider as a master in Dark-Ambient.

Conclusion: “Ellipsis” is a noticeable comeback for Subterranean Source and also an interesting concept for featuring other artists.

Best songs: “Oblivion”, “Ocean Chants & Ghosts”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/subterraneansource

Label: www.winter-light.nl / www.facebook.com/winter.light.1

About Subterranean Source

Subterranean Source is the dark ambient project of Italian musician Andrea Bellucci, who is also active with Red Sector A and with projects including Dioxide, Nerva, Vetropaco and QOD. Discogs lists two earlier albums, “Vivid Circles” in 2002 and “Relic” in 2008, both limited CD releases on Desolation House.

“Ellipsis” was released on 23 July 2021 by the Dutch label Winter-Light and holds five collaborative tracks: “Decadimento Incrementale” with Paolo L. Bandera of Sigillum S, “Evoke” with New Risen Throne, “Oblivion” with Exit In Grey, “Ocean Chants & Ghosts” with Nimh and “Zaruchejnaya” with Lunar Abyss Deus Organum.

The credits list Bandera on electronics, Nimh on guitars and synthesizers, Lunar Abyss Deus Organum on a chain of electronic devices, New Risen Throne on samples and drones, and Exit In Grey on electronics and drones. Robin Storey mastered the album and Midnight Sun Studio produced the cover artwork and design.

Side-Line has no earlier article on the project. The archive mentions the name only in coverage of other Italian ambient acts, so the release history above rests on the Discogs entries and the Winter-Light release page.

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.

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Genre/Influences: IDM, dubstep, experimental, electro-ambient.

Background/Info: Nerva is the meeting between Andrea Bellucci (Red Sector A, Subterranean Source, Dioxide ao) and Andrea Gastaldello (Mingle). The name of the band stands for ‘the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application, which was used in the famous project for the United States Atomic Energy Commission and NASA from 1960 up until 1972.’ It inspired Nerva to compose 8 tracks, which you can hear on their debut full length.

Content: The opening song reveals some early Klinik-influences, but it also directly shows a great sound knowledge. Quite progressively “Nerva” gets the listener into a mix of IDM, dubstep, ambient and pure avant-garde electronics.

The songs are characterized by impressive sound treatments like heavy blasting noises on one side and refined bleeping sequences on the other. The rhythmic reveals an intelligent approach, which makes me think of some dubstep and IDM productions.

+ + + : If you like progressive electronic compositions made with intelligence and resulting from the genius mind of experienced musicians, you for sure have to discover Nerva. The work reveals an impressive spectrum of influences, but the common element and cement between all is the passion for sound creation. I especially know the work of Andrea Bellucci and the least I can say is that this artist is a real visionary musician taking care to innovate and to never repeat himself.

– – – : “Nerva” is not exactly the most accessible work for narrow-minded electro lovers, but I’m sure they’ll be praised by the others. Nerva stands for intelligence, but also for complex and difficult music!

Conclusion: Nerva sounds like an eclipse; a magic phenomenon that doesn’t happened on regular basis… but I’m glad you can renew the experience as much as you want by simply pressing the ‘play’ button.

Best songs: “Myocardium”, “Lizard Mask”, “Landed”, “Lato”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.facebook.com/andrea.bellucci.370 / www.facebook.com/Mingle-117826331595547

Label: www.finalmuzik.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Final–Muzik/85814529244

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