A\G

_intropsectum_ review by S. Goldmann

Dipping his toes into the broad styles of electronica, A\G recently forged a bold, refreshing, 30-minute collection of seven dark – as well as daring - musical gems, each with a unique and distinctive sound, bridging the gap between IDM and experimental electronic music, with a touch of retro/vintage vibe to it ensued by a classic piano added to the mix. The record kicks off slow with ‘A Blurred Vision’ in a seemingly mellow, almost space-age atmosphere, combining haunting piano chords and dreamy synthesizers. With the fuzzy and the schizophrenic track ‘Phormula’, A\G turns the heat up to eleven; don’t be fooled though, because things are about to take an even darker turn. Despite its sinister, evocative title, ‘XOR scism’ is likely the most danceable track on the record, with syncopated beats and a highly infectious bassline that never let up. I can picture it being played in a sweaty, smoky club with tons of people bopping their head to the rhythm on the dance floor. Things come full circle toward the end; this hallucinatory musical journey wraps up with ‘Interference’ in similar tone and pace as it had started on the opening track, despite it leaving no space for a happy ending. The atmosphere gains momentum... The lights are dimmed at the lowest setting. It gets harder and harder to breathe. Once you get suckered into the dark, mysterious quantum realm of _introspectum_, there is no turning back. 

Suede Goldmann Author of ‘A Call From the Past’

Interview by S. Goldmann

A\G’s debut effort has inevitably grabbed my attention. After giving this record a few spins to soak it all in, I reached out to Alessandro Grecucci, A\G, in order to ask him a few questions about his first solo project. He agreed to schedule with me a phone interview last week which I’m now super proud to be able to share.

All right, let’s talk a bit about what has inspired you to write _introspectum_ and what has informed your record as you embarked on your musical journey. Is it what the expert would call a concept album? Is there a recurring theme throughout your collection of songs?

A\G: Thank you Suede for reaching out to me. The inspiration for introspectum comes from introspection, from my diving in inner landscapes. Every song was inspired by some kind of exploration on human nature. I always ask myself big questions on humans, what was before us, and what will follow. You can find the feeling of a perturbation and uncertainty on A blurred vision, or the theme of breaking and need for a change in Phormula, but also the fragile identity of modern humans in Fragmented. I think these are very common themes. I just tried to put them into sounds. It can be considered as a soundtrack or something very immersive to listen to and visualize what I tried to suggest with sounds...

I understand you wear many hats: you’re a neuroscientist, a painter, a musician... I imagine you’ve been asked a million times before, like I have. So, tell me... who are you? And more to the point... WHAT ARE YOU?! Have you ever felt like you’ve had to fit in a mould or you’ve had to put yourself in a box? Or do you feel like you’ve been fighting the evil twin all your life?

A\G: This is something I avoid asking myself. I do not like to define myself or reduce myself into categories. I’m just everchanging and mutating. I’m not the same as yesterday. Not the same from what this interview started. I’m not obsessed with coherence or tracing confines. I just follow what my brain suggests to me… and I listen to it, I trust it… Even though sometimes it is the opposite of what my brain suggested me a moment before.

The next question should come as no surprise. Talking about putting one’s self in a box... I know I’ve tried to draw a brief interpretation to your music so the casual listener will know what to expect, but now I’d like to hear your take on your own stuff first. So, how would you describe your record and your music? Do you even find a way to define them?

A\G: This is a hard question. I don’t reflect too much on my musical choices when I make music. I just follow the inspiration and see what it brings. I have a feeling, an idea, a vision or a mood, and it doesn’t really matter to me what is the genre I’m doing or the instrument that I’m using to crystallize it. Someone can see IDM, others modern classic music for the extensive usage of piano. But I don’t think my music really fits these genres.It can be considered as a real soundtrack of a movie that you need to generate with your mind while you listen to it.

How much do your job and your musical background impact the way you make music now? How much do they feed off one another?

A\G: There is a fil rouge on everything I do: making experiments. I think I started doing this as child. I’ve always tried to make something new, to explore, to make experiments. I’m not a musician who studied music, as I’m not a painter who studied painting. I just try to explore what comes to my mind with different languages. I contaminate, explore, disassemble, and see if all this process brings something I like in the end.

Suede Goldmann Author of ‘A Call From the Past’