Novellino may be a relatively young artist in the world of minimalist sound, but these two distinct, but complimentary demonstrate that he is definitely not lacking experience or ability. In both a long-form single piece and a series of shorter compositions, he balances both the static and the dynamic to excellent effect.
Through Glass is more consistent with a traditional album structure, with a series of ten shorter, but quite diverse pieces.The opening two, "A Footpath for Night Dancers" and "Sirens," lead off on the slightly noisier end of the spectrum, with both mixing buzzing and feedback peaks, maintaining a sense of nuance.The former's more dissonant moments mask an understated, underlying melody, while the latter’s addition of pseudo-strings and an overall aquatic feel make it stand out.
Pieces like the title track might not be quite as rough, but with delicate passages paired with digitally treated static, the balance between ugly and beautiful is ever shifting."Ex Butterfly" and "Her Red Shoes" are companion pieces that mostly stay away from dissonance entirely.The former opens up with layers of panning and swelling tones that eventually soar into a dramatic, almost regal flourish before falling into "Her Red Shoes," which brings in what sounds like guitar and an almost rhythmic low-end backing.
In contrast, the single piece EP Lost Days stays on more of a singular course throughout its over 20 minute duration.Initially an expansive drone that thickens and widens in power, eventually things become a vast, spacey expanse.There is a slow, calm beauty throughout, with different colors, light and dark, blending and intertwining amongst each other.The latter moments are where things begin to take a darker, more intense turn.
While these two were released separately and at different times, both works complement each other nicely, demonstrating that, though he may have a relatively small discography thus far, Novellino can work in both long and short-form contexts.While both are excellent, I did find myself drawn a bit more towards Through Glass because of its more diverse structure.Both are exceptional, however, and I am expecting great things from subsequent releases.
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