Donilo Ligato-Rizieri; EEEE Records, 2021

 

These days, it's often that Disaster Amnesiac wants to throw my hands up into the air and beseech the Creator, "CAN THE WORLD BE AS SAD AS IT SEEMS?" 

Thanks to Throbbing Gristle for supplying that bit of wise query, and thanks to the Creator for gifting humans with music. Even during sad and hard times, humans can make and listen to music. So many moods, and surely for each of them, a sound can be found. Even when sadness grinds at the senses, we can find a music that helps. 

All of this brings Disaster Amnesiac to Rizieri, a new digital EP from seasoned sound artist Danilo Ligato. Across three rather short tracks, Ligato conjures moods that have been pretty uplifting during a turbulent time. Opener Nube pairs minor key vibraphone ostinato with somewhat eerie feedback sounds; the former has frozen this listener in his tracks in somewhat sad contemplation, while the latter pushes those feelings back a bit, until a noise wall of guitar chords takes over the entire scene.This song has brought the tears streaming, tears of genuine sadness at the acknowledgement of physical life's inevitable endings, and tears of joy at the simple beauty that we are afforded within this mortal coil. This is music with simple, direct affect. Wonderful. Next up is Dissipatio, wherein ethereal keyboards pair with clean, plucked guitar. Pensive at first, its latter, major key sounding portion brings just the right amount optimism. Ligato ain't leaving you mired in despair, and for that you should feel good. Rizieri's short journey concludes with Monte Analogo. A simple keyboard refrain, much like that of Nube, is treated with metallic cello sounds and small whisps of feedback. Another lovely little island of intimacy. 

The three tracks that make up Rizieri have an interconnected feel that is very pleasurable. Even as they seem to reflect a deep sadness (or, maybe that's just Disaster Amnesiac projecting?), their beauty is akin to that of discovering the deeper, hidden joys within the human struggle. As I continue to struggle through these strange times, I'll be dipping in to its ethereal tones for some of those healing vibes.

Perpetual Bridge-Upon the Deep; self-released via Bandcamp, 2021

 

The world certainly has been under heavy manners, has it not? Fear seems to have become the guiding emotion for a LOT of people over the past year, even more so than usual. Disaster Amnesiac will spare you the list, for, surely, you're aware of it. I will say, that during times of stress, duress, and societal mess, I, like many others, tend to turn towards the more soothing sounds. After a day of taking in whatever weird/bad news is currently being spewed, it can be really tough to listen to, say, Slayer, with the hopes of just finding a way towards making it to another one. 

Recently, this dynamic has been where Perpetual Bridge's Upon the Deep has come in really handy. This three track EP-length digital release is full of the kind of hypnotically cosmic sounds that can truly assuage the frightened feelings that seem to be poking up from all corners. Composed and performed by Swiss/Italian sound artist and DJ Nadia Peter, who coaxes all manner of digital exotica and hypnotica from what I imagine are digital sources, Upon the Deep sends the listener into three worlds of comfortingly beautiful sound baths.  On tracks Nebula, Hidden Rivers, and Blue Orbit, quiet musical motifs are presented and then fleshed out with many different manner of bubbling, scratching, and whirling sound accents. The sounds here are almost New Age in their melodic composition, but the added accents give them a certain spice that enlivens them into something more spacey and singular. 

There's plenty of musical variety coming from the mind of Perpetual Bridge's creator, and it can surely appeal to wide swath of listeners, as evidenced by Mrs. Amnesiac deeming it "really cool", often most assuredly NOT an appellation given by her to the music that she hears coming from my stereo. 

Upon the Deep has provided Disaster Amnesiac with a place of refuge in which to relax and to escape from the turbulence that society is stumbling through. Recommend listening technique for this lovely EP: put it on repeat, find a comfy spot in which to sit, and just let its sounds embrace you with their mysteriously calming mists.