Sparkle in Grey
| Sparkle in Grey | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Milan, Italy |
| Genres | Electronica Post-rock Folk Ambient Experimental |
| Years active | 1999-present |
| Labels | Disasters By Choice Grey Sparkle,Afe Black Fading Musica di un Certo Livello Cold Current |
| Website | Official Website |
| Members | |
| Matteo Uggeri, Alberto Carozzi, Cristiano Lupo, Franz Krostopovic | |
Sparkle in Grey is a Milan, Italy-based Electronica and post-rock project formed in the year 1999 by Matteo Uggeri (Laptop, Electronics and Field Recordings). In 2005 two new members joined the project: Cristiano Lupo (Guitar and Drums), who was also in previous new-wave/industrial band Norm with Uggeri, and Alberto Carozzi (Bass and Guitar), from the post rock band Yakudoshi. In 2006 Franz Krostopovic joined the band with Violin and then Keyboards.
Contents |
[edit] History
At the beginning the music of Sparkle in Grey, as a solo project, was essentially an electronic beat and melodies based assembly of soft tunes and delicate rhythms, in a sort of Morr Music/Warp style. So the first record, called The Echoes of Thiiings and issued by the small cult Italian label 'Afe' presents thirteen tracks of remarkable musical poetry. To this record several other musicians, including Nicola Ratti, Telepherique and Pleo, added their contribution with a second CD, called Fadiiing Echoes, which presents remixed versions of the original tracks.
Later on, in 2008, with the addition of guitars, bass, drums and violin, the music enriched with a lot of multiple layers and more complex structures, but always preserving its typical melodic and rhythmical style. The result is A Quiet Place, published by 'Disasters By Choice', that can be described as a sort of new post-rock based on electronics and with strong elements of experimental music (like field recordings and noise). It's in this direction that the group collaborated with the industrial master M.B./Maurizio Bianchi in 2007, publishing a joint album about the concept of 'clouds', that features the harsh crakcing of M.B. and his minimal drones or piano dissonant tunes together with the heartbreaking melodies of Sparkle on Grey.
In 2010 Black Fading records (of Disciplinatha's ex Singer Cristiano Santini) releases "Whale Heart, Whale Heart", a completely new attempt in the field of acoustic music, where the band collaborates with the pop/folk singer and post-rock artist Tex La Homa (Matt Shaw).
In 2011 a group of Italian and Swiss labes publishes "Mexico", an album that mixes the previous influences (post-rock and electronics) with dub, new wave and other genres. It was recorded by Cristiano Santini, mixed by Giuseppe Ielasi and mastered by Andrea Serrapiglio (which collaborates with Carla Bozulich.
“The music of Sparkle in Grey is always well balanced and extremely intense. “ Denis ‘Monopsone’ (Autres Directions) [1]
“Nefelodhis: a timeless masterpiece.” Philippe Blache (Progarchives) [2]
“The profound bass-line and the classical violin have something in common with Tuxedomoon, but Sparkle in Grey show they have already achieved a personal and very poetic style.” Vittore Baroni (Rumore) [3]
[edit] Interviews
"Well the grass is always greener, huh?", The Silent Ballet, Feb. 2009 [4]
"Metamorfosi industriale", Blow Up, July/Aug 2008 [5]
"Gli intona(r)umori", Rockerilla, June/July 2008 [6]
[edit] Radio transmissions
“A blend of electronic and post-rock music, where the acoustics tune in perfectly with the crackling of electronics." Nicola Catalano (Battiti, Radio3) [7]
"Delusion Song: here’s an example of a perfect song." Renato Scuffietti (Radio Popolare) [8]
[edit] Prizes
"Sparkle in Grey, the recipients of an Honorable Mention in TSB's Top 50 Records of 2008", The Silent Ballet [9]
[edit] Selected discography
- Goose Game, (2011, Grey Sparkle, CD-R/free download)
- Mexico, (2011, Lizard/Grey Sparkle/MCL/Afe/OldBycicle, CD)
- Whale Heart, Whale Heart, with Tex La Homa (2010, Black Fading Records/Grey Sparkle/MCL, LP)
- A Quiet Place (2008, Disasters By Choice, CD)
- Nefelodhis, with M.B./Maurizio Bianchi (2007, Musica di un Certo Livello/Cold Current, CD)
- The Echoes of Thiiings/Fadiiing Echoes (2005, Afe, CD-R)
- The Coldest January (2004, ctrl+alt+canc/sine3pm, mp3)
[edit] References
“A Quiet Place comes to a close with a dainty musical jewellery-box tune suggestive of innocence and peacefulness, a return to a dreamlike state within the arms of stillness [...] Yet despite their detail, they remain soft velvet hues of unimposing sound distilled with excellent musicianship." James Crossan (The Silent Ballet) [10]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Autres Directions Denis Monopsone (2008). "Review of "A Quiet Place"". Autres directions. http://www.autresdirections.net/article.php3?id_article=1367. Retrieved February 2, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ Progarchives Philippe Blache (2007). "Review of "Nefelodhis"". Progarchives. http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=204072. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
- ^ Rumore Vittore Baroni (2008). "Review of "A Quiet Place"". Rumore. http://www.greysparkle.com/sig/album_07_aqp_reviews.htm. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
- ^ The Silent Ballet Joe Sannicadro (2009). "Interview to Sparkle in Grey". The Silent Ballet. http://www.thesilentballet.com/dnn/Articles/tabid/55/ctl/Details/mid/431/ItemID/2155/Default.aspx.
- ^ Rumore Paolo Bertoni (2008). "Interview to Sparkle in Grey". Blow Up Magazine. http://www.greysparkle.com/sig/sparkle_in_grey-intervista-blowup.jpg. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
- ^ RockerillaRoberto Mandolini (2008). "Interview to Sparkle in Grey". Rockerilla. http://www.greysparkle.com/sig/sparkle_in_grey-intervista-rockerilla.jpg. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
- ^ Battiti, Radio 3 Nicola Catalano (2008). "Radio transmission of part of "A Quiet Place"". Rai Radio 3 National Radio. http://www.battiti.rai.it/dl/radio3/programmi/PublishingBlock-96d966cc-70e1-4cc4-bac3-358241dd000d.html. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
- ^ Radio Popolare Renato Scuffietti (2008). "Radio transmission of part of "A Quiet Place" and telephone interview with Matteo Uggeri". Rai Radio 3 National Radio. http://www.radiopopolare.it/poplive/diretta/. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
- ^ The Silent Ballet Joe Sannicadro (2009). "Honorable Mention in TSB's Top 50 Records of 2008 for "A Quiet Place"". The Silent Ballet. http://www.thesilentballet.com/dnn/Reviews/tabid/54/ctl/Details/mid/438/ItemID/1660/Default.aspx.
- ^ The Silent Ballet James Crossan (2008). "Review of "A Quiet Place"". The Silent Ballet. http://www.thesilentballet.com/dnn/Reviews/tabid/54/ctl/Details/mid/438/ItemID/1660/Default.aspx. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
