Published by Davide Pappalardo on August 26, 2018
Truemantic is the project of Italian composer Toto Ronzulli, an outlet in which post-punk, new wave, progressive rock, blend into a personal touch expressing his inner world. Now, he debuts with his self-named album made of 11 tracks on the independent label Seahorse Recordings – a work made of almost instrumental music moving between ambient soundscapes, dreamy pastiches painted by guitars, and some experiments with electronic music. We are invited to explore this sound-place, this inner realm, guided by the his turmoil, love, and even happiness.
If Velluto, an evocative ambient piece, sets the mood with his eerie lines and pastoral arpeggios, underlined by slow rhythms and classy piano sounds, Rivedermi follows stronger post-punk motifs with downtuned guitars and synthetic mantras with sweet melodies and nostalgic atmospheres. 8 sees the presence of the shoegaze/dream pop band Dade City Days, delivering the only track with vocals; hectic electronics and suave voices lay down the intimate and dreamy nature of the track.
Vento del sud returns to post-punk territories, using a harsher guitar sound and old-school melodies with familiar drum machine rhythms and melancholic passages, without forfeiting evocative synth sounds and more experimental moments. Un anno fa is a piano piece full of delicate atmospheres built by classical and intimate soundscapes, a moment made of hidden beauty and eerie elements, while Abisso ends the album with darker, but never violent, motifs in which spiraling arpeggiators and filtered guitars are mixed with shrilling effects and steady rhythms, evoking a submerged sea world .
Truemantic is an interesting example of multifaceted music, exploring different takes on instrumental soundscapes and emotive canvas painted by different instruments and genres. Due to the nature of the project, an attentive listening experience is required, alone in the dark with our sense engulfed by the sounds. We will see if his music will further evolve in the future, maybe presenting more vocal-driven moments (as the one with Dade City Days is one of the best moments on the album), but as of now If you want to hear what the Italian underground has to offer, you can start here.
Label: Seahorse Recordings
Rating: 7