The Living Within Our Means compilation reaches its finale with the hypnotic modular voyage ‘Magnus’ from Italian musician Giulio Fontana a.k.a Ogle.
Starting his musical career as a guitarist, Fontana decided to shift focus entirely, moving away from a world of bands and the six string to one of pure electronic. His instrument of choice is the famed Buchla Music Easel – an instrument much beloved of artists looking to recreate the nostalgic, hauntological sounds of yesteryear. Built in the likeness and technically as close as possible to the 1973 original, the newer model uncannily replicates the sonic electronica that fifty or so years ago stood at the forefront or electronic musical innovation.
For Fontana, the Easel is the tool that allows him to recreate his memories of growing up in a big city and he has been plying his synth-based musical trade ever since, starting with 2020 release, Sky – an apt title for such a transcendent piece of work. Fontana released an amazing three albums that same year, before a brief hiatus that saw him return with a bang in late 2023 and the album Random Intentions. This was swiftlyfollowed by hislatest long player in January of this year, the sumptuous Tropical Entropy, made solely using the Buchla Easel and recorded live without overdubs or edits.
With his contribution to the Living Within Our Means comp ‘Magnus’ Fontana presents seven glorious minutes of transcendent electronica. Synth notes tiptoe in, as Fofana delivers arpeggios that are both tentative and playful, before higher-pitched sonics enter, underscoring the looping melody with a pseudo percussive beat. As the halfway mark hits, the tempo steps up a gear – the high and low notes jostling for airtime. This is a trip into the cosmos and one that accelerates exponentially, the music shifting from otherworldly calm to a Waltzer in space. The Buchla sounds truly mesmeric right up to the orgasmic ending where all hell breaks loose – a modular ‘A Day in the Life’. A breathtaking journey and what a way to end the album.
Latest album :
https://ogle81.bandcamp.com/album/tropical-entropy
Sarah Gregory
MEANS 