“Dodici,” the lead-off track and first single from Solo Sueno, is one of the most ebullient tracks of the new year. Beginning with a literal breath of excitement, the piece plunges into brilliant interplay between sax and electronics, representing the friendship between Cuneo, Italy’s Filippo Ansaldi & Simone Sims Longo. After its initial burst, the music takes another literal breath before diving into a deeper pool of brass and beats. It’s a wonderful wake-up song, a celebratory introduction.
If there’s another track like this here, it’s “Curundu,” the second single. (These two would make a perfect 45!) The tempo-driven piece is swift to the point of being hyperactive, imitating club music without the techno beat. Instead, the composition bursts with color, suggesting a Carnavale. The closing, punctuating shift is especially effective, a wink to the listening audience that the duo can cool the pace whenever it chooses.
But the set is much deeper than its singles. “Temporaneo” is ripple and wave, with intimations of rain. “Cosmo” is occasionally abstract, introducing hints of dissonance and slowing to a train stop conclusion. “Appena visibile” exists in the ambient spectrum, gently gliding in a series of shuffles and slow melodic tones before ending in a near-orchestral flourish. As these tracks separate the singles, they add to one’s appreciation of the dynamic contrast. “+1” is sprightly again, alternating between dance and conversation; we’re not sure if the term “+1” is the same in Italian as it is in English, where it implies a romantic companion, but if so, the term fits. Large blasts enter at the 2:30 mark, increasing the drama, suggesting conflict followed by resolution: a memorable evening out. “Alibi” and “Illusione” are more mysterious, like outtakes from a spy film, the first peering surreptitiously around sonic corners, the second leading with an upbeat tempo, imitating a chase. The back half is sweeter, like a hero arriving on horseback, followed by a dramatic reunion.
Listeners may invent their own narratives while enjoying these often-playful sounds. It’s obvious that the duo is having fun, and their energy is contagious. (Richard Allen)
a closer listen 