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'Animal Carnival' – Tanti Aglaia (SBA #044)

Following on from the cinematic soundscapes of ‘Clinical Trials’ by f5point6, the next release on See Blue Audio is something different again with ‘Animal Carnival’. This is the second release on the label from Tanti Aglaia and like its predecessor, ‘La Mer’, released in May 2022, it’s a standalone longform track. Here the similarities end, however, and ‘Animal Carnival’ takes on strange, beautiful, hypnotic and mysterious qualities of its own for the forty-fourth release on See Blue Audio.

‘Animal Carnival’ is another sonic passage through time and tempo from Gili Mocanu, an accomplished Romanian painter born in the historic city of Constanța beside the Black Sea. Employing his characteristic atypical synth sounds, spectralist techniques, and asymmetrical or non-rhythmic elements, Gili’s music travels through minimalist and experimental, industrial, and ambient drone territory, but with a unique character all of its own.

Tonality and repetition are prominent elements explored in Gili’s artistic endeavours as Tanti Aglaia, a name inspired by a Romanian comic character of the same name from the early ’80. In the context of a narrative framework, these aspects create an interplay of rhythmic notes that evoke a dialogue-like quality. This can be likened to a kind of logical connectivity where inquiry, response and reaction link together to become integral components.

In the latter part of the piece, an electric guitar takes centre stage, illustrating the rhythmic progression with a solo performance. This creates a poignant atmosphere, evoking a bittersweet longing as if yearning for a long-lost companion. As the music unfolds, serendipity intervenes: the partner reappears, leading to a reunion.

To put it another way, the overarching theme of ‘Animal Carnival’ can be understood through two distinct rhythmic motifs. One embodies a feminine essence, elongated and graceful, while the other represents masculinity, concise and percussive. This entire interplay revolves around relationships, intertwining rhythm with harmony. Whether this dialogue exists in real human connections or on a conceptual and metaphysical level remains open to interpretation. In broader terms, it mirrors the workings of nature and the animal kingdom, reflecting their pattern of impulse and response to external influences.

In contrast to this, the Tanti Aglaia aesthetic also embraces paradoxes. While ‘Animal Carnival’ finds its backdrop in repetition and logic, the title itself implies a sense of curiosity and wonder. After all, a carnival is an explosion of sound and colour, where the boundaries blur and a touch of madness lingers. In this realm, we are reminded of our primal instincts, tapping into our animalistic nature.

40 minutes in length, ‘Animal Carnival’ is another deeply immersive creation by Gili, even when it exudes an intriguing transience, and See Blue Audio is honoured to be able to present this new piece alongside ‘La Mer’ as part of its catalogue.

Project management by MMercury.

Photography: Gili Mocanu.