Naples-born producer Giri pushes atmospheric Techno to its limit with his latest EP, (IA024) Schemi, released on IMMATERIAL.Archives.
Giovanni Napoletano, also known as Giri, is a producer and label head who’s steadily taking the world of Techno by storm. Over the last few years, Giri has landed releases on numerous esteemed labels, including New Rhythmic, Evod, and Prophet, and has even founded his very own imprint, Antiterra.
Now, his latest release on Amsterdam’s IMMATERIAL.Archives showcases some of his most innovative and enthralling work to date. The 24th archive, a four-track EP simply titled Schemi, miraculously blends hypnotic and peak-time influences to land somewhere in-between, somewhere that feels new.
Have you ever been in the middle of a large crowded dancefloor when suddenly you realize you need to quickly get somewhere at the other end of the room? Push through the people, try to see through the fog, and whatever you do, be careful not to fall? This music gives off that feeling, but somehow in an enjoyable way.
Starting off the EP is the introductory track, titled “Schema Previsto.” Vast reverberations and hefty drums give you very little room to breathe. Echoing voices trick your mind into entering a state of emergency, and the booming kick and bass only make matters worse. Except there is no emergency to escape from, you are simply being taken elsewhere, transcending to a new state of consciousness. This is what Techno is supposed to do, and Giri has gotten quite good at it.
Continuing on this journey, Giri clears a path through the chaos of his introduction with the second track, “La Stanza nella Mente.” Pulsing static gradually swells, then subsides, while an intricate mesh of percussion whizzes by. It is clear that maximalist atmospheric Techno is Giri’s forte, and in this project, he has reached a higher level. “Schema Nascosto” is perhaps he most hypnotic of the lot but certainly keeps the adrenaline pumping throughout. Detuned modular loops reminiscent of Balinese gamelan are sure to put you in a trance-like state, but the crunch and grit of the drums will keep you wide awake and dancing like a maniac.
Last is the closing tune, “Tremorzanna”, for one last journey through the underworld. Gnarly screeching sirens are put through the wringer of abstract effects, while a steady beat chugs along. Manipulated beyond what you’ve heard before, or what you might expect, in this cut, Giri demonstrates his mastery of abstract sound design—a quality that can help set you apart from the herd.
Support Giri with a digital download of the EP via the Bandcamp page, linked above.
-Jeronimo Watson
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