Salvatore Mercatante - Ø [Transparent with white smoke 2LP]

Format: 2 x LP, Transparent with white smoke
Catalogue No.: ASIPV045
Release Date: 26 Jan 2024
Genre: Experimental/Electronic

2LP” vinyl 140gm, Transparent with white smoke, featuring artwork by Brandon Locher. Includes Liner notes and Bandcamp Download Card.

The concept of naught (Ø) has challenged Salvatore Mercatante throughout his musical career, specifically, trying to understand how the idea of ‘nothing’ fits into the realm of sound, and at the same time, exist in a world of influence at every turn. In the absence of everything, are we able to create something truly free?

As a lifelong New York-based musician, Mercatante’s influences and productions run a wide spectrum. Just as happy producing 80s-inspired horror soundtracks as he is refining acute drum patterns over and over again, Salvatore is the first to ask himself, where next? When a musician’s output can be influenced today by so much, and there is no self-defined or perceived artistic goal in mind, how do you start from a place of nothingness, again and again?

This approach has born many minimal and experimental albums of note in the past, but with Ø, Salvatore ended up with an almost controlled maximalist approach. Beginning with open spaces and allowing sonic textures to live and evolve past where you may expect, Ø allows the space between notes to become equally as important as the notes themselves. Walls of noise, soaring soundtracks, dense techno, glittering IDM, and minimal glitch, sit side-by-side to present an all-encompassing palette of sonic possibility.

Often, even without any intent, what can be born from nothing will somehow transpire back into something more recognizable. It’s human nature after all. A subtle fingerprint, as a sequence, melody, pattern, or drum kick. Whether Salvatore intended for this record to represent his defining sound or not, only time will tell.

Mastered by Giuseppe Tillieci @Enisslab, Rome, Italy.
Artwork by Brandon Locher
Written and produced by Salvatore Mercatante

Tracklisting:
A1. OPEN, OPEN
A2. Old Peels
B1. Love Of Lies
B2. A Mask Of Water
B3. MOON
C1. Atac
C2. Narcotics
D1. How Many Hands
D2. Coil
D3. Alt B

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