Cat.#: ROHS!047CD
Release date: 23/2/2024
Format: CD, Digital

The sound dramaturgy of 'Unity' starts with the album title, which refers to the strength of remaining united and constantly rooted in the present and the surrounding space. This release is a continuum of the first cassette for Lontano series from February 2023, that now shows its second side into a “non-song” shape. Conceptually part of the storytelling, memories without a geographical location are energy of the whole creature, in an eternal and abstract way, as the record moves in its full length.

Passing through different emotional listening signals, without ever touching a clearly defined goal or target. Structurally sculpting a sound of electro-acoustic nature, no coordinates, whether this tends more towards experimental, research, or soundtrack music: a daily practice in recording, drawing ideas and intuitions with the sound media.

Recorded at WORM Sound Studios in Rotterdam (3, 6, 8, 10), in a small flat in Rimini (1, 2, 5, 7 and 11 together with Jacopo Buda's trumpet), while playing at Imbarchino del Valentino in Turin (9), a forgotten recording (4).

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Cecchitelli’s style reminds me a bit of Angelo Badalamenti, a chosen soundtrack composer for David Lynch, among others. It is much like his, but with some Leo Kottke added, with a similar style of guitar melodies.
Demetrio’s Cecchitelli’s album Unity provides a compelling listen. I am a fan of electroacoustic music, and his use of guitar sounds is very effective. Melodies are appropriately intense. Acoustic sources of various kinds are well-used in these songs. The album is mainly comprised of guitar songs; some electronics are used for accompaniment. Effects are present, and they may be digitally created or controlled. Overall, the mode is more electroacoustic/instrumental than other genres—reference the opening title track.

“Loop (for Earth)” starts out with a feedback drone. A deep piano chord is heard. There is a sense of observing a distant orbiting body– an abandoned satellite or fragment of rock. Discordant, detuned string and voice sounds contribute to a sense of urgency. Fear permeates the track like Chernobyl’s persisting radiation. “Dictaphone” consists of tape noises which sound like waves of deep rumbling static. The recording is likely taken with an actual dictaphone device. The droning oceanic waves replace the ramblings and/or speeches of any of various politicos. “First Ending” consists of cavernous drones and guitar riffs. Nicely-integrated synth work can be heard, which are a bit like Steve Roach’s works, or Brian Eno’s in Ambient 4: On Land. There is a sense of walking down a stairwell, with a quiet, goth-folk-styled descending chord pattern. Another feeling is that the listener is falling asleep, lulled by the song.

Cecchitelli’s style reminds me a bit of Angelo Badalamenti, a chosen soundtrack composer for David Lynch, among others. It is much like his, but with some Leo Kottke added, with a similar style of guitar melodies. Prevalent and contemporary, spiritual and emotional matters are themes of the album. Genres such as dark folk, goth, and drone are evoked by Cecchitelli’s agility with reverberated acoustic string sounds.
(Review by Igloo Magazine)

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Quattro dilatati paesaggi atmosferici in bilico tra ambient e composizione elettroacustica sancivano la prima collaborazione tra Demetrio Cecchitelli e la rohs! di Andrea Porcu. Ad un anno di distanza il musicista riminese torna sulla medesima etichetta proponendo un itinerario concepito in continuazione al precedente tassello.

Registrato in luoghi e momenti differenti, Unity presenta nette differenze rispetto al predecessore concettuale, sia nella struttura che nelle risultanze proposte, malgrado si nutri della medesime pasta sonora basata su un’intersezione coesa di avanguardie, ambient e retaggi post-rock. Le tracce si sfaldano per divenire frammenti, ciascuno orientato verso un territorio specifico, che alterna trame oblique attraversate da screziature marcate (Unity), schegge noise (Dictaphone) e flussi vaporosi (Intersection) proiettati a lambire derive drone (Different Layer). Le risonanze della chitarra, sotto forma di trame nitide (Turning Point, l’ammaliante Northern Land impreziosita dalla tromba di Jacopo Buda)) o frequenze manipolate, rimangono elemento centrale che insieme al senso costante di sfasamento, all’aura diafana che sottende le diverse tessiture, fungono da fil rouge di un insieme estremamente sfaccettato.

Coeso per atmosfera e cangiante nella forma, l’album riesce a costruire un viaggio interiore magnetico segnando un ulteriore sviluppo del processo di ricerca di Cecchitelli, autore sempre più consapevole dei propri mezzi.
(Recensione a cura di Peppe Trotta per SoWhat)