- In light of his releases on Imprints and Yay Recordings, Riccardo's latest is a considerable left turn. Classic pads, earworm basslines and on-point shuffle and pacing are replaced by a remote, inhuman atmosphere of glinting synths and electroid paranoia. Where his earlier work practically rolled out the red carpet for the dancer, this double-pack adopts a hostile pose and revels in its refusal of easy pleasures. Soft edges make way for spiky surfaces and swung grooves for juddering, robotic rhythms. Formerly dependable structures are nowhere in sight, replaced by treacherous journeys without clear destinations.
If not for the kicks, hats and snares, you might call this IDM. The synths stutter in and out of sync, helium-sucking voices murmur and chortle from the sidelines, and unsettling pads creep into view. Listening to the five tracks sequentially can be head-scratching, but they make more sense when mixed with other material. They make great bridges between minimal and electro, and the sound design, which foregrounds detail over impact, comes into its own on bigger speakers. "Intothestruggles (Dubmix)," in particular, fuses a wobbing bassline with oddly panning, noisy hi-hats and guttural synth stabs that sound like they're tearing at the seams. "Amazzonia" feels like it's locked in a constant state of malfunction, with free-wheeling synth excursions barely held together by a welcome clap—that dash of normalcy is a relief among all the alien textures. The record is sure to elicit mixed feelings. But sometimes not feeling certain about music is a good thing, and Riccardo has taken a risk that bodes well for his future.
TracklistA1 Giraffe
B1 Giraffe (Dubmix)
B2 Intothestruggles (Dubmix)
C1 Amazzonia
D1 Intothestruggles