Review Summary: A classical composer that crosses the border into electronics with both ambient and techno leanings.
Chris Ianuzzi might not be a new name for those who follow modern composers that cross the lines between modern classical and electronic music. He has been on the scene for a while with a number of releases, particularly under the name I, Synthesist. He has also worked with big names in electronic music like Suzanne Ciani and Peter Baumann of Tangerine Dream fame and has scored for visual works in various media like orchestral and electronic sound design music for HBO's "From the Earth to the Moon" series.
Preparing for the release of his new album in 2020, he comes up with a three-track EP “Olga In A Black Hole.” Listeners who might be wary of the ‘modern classical’ tag need not worry. The 20 or so minute EP is an all-electronic affair that probably has more beats than some current ambient composers would include in their works. But then, those more familiar with the works of Steve Reich or John Cage would note that the beats were as present in some of the works of these ‘strictly classical’ composers.
Still, what Ianuzzi does is straddle the classical/beat electronic divide with ease. His beats have more to do with techno, but at the same time follow the classical compositional structure. As the title of the EP and the closing composition here imply, there is a brooding, dark atmosphere throughout as if the listener is joining Olga (and Ianuzzi) on a ride through a real black hole. Whatever that would be like. In many ways, current times here on Earth seem to be reflecting through Ianuzzi’s three compositions here. This is particularly true of the opening title composition, which in many ways corresponds to the quality level of the recent output of some electronic composers like that of Markus Popp of the Oval fame.
Quite a promise for the Spring 2020 release of Ianuzzi’s new album.
