Giancarlo Erra, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist of Nosound, is back, this time with a solo album, Departure Tapes, that was released on KScope Records, on July 2, 2021.
Departure Tapes is a reflection of a difficult year for Giancarlo, losing his father to cancer. A tragic year for many around the world living and dying through a global pandemic. The opening track, captures and reflects the awful repetition of death and trials many have had to endure during this pandemic. Giancarlo puts it this way: “The end result is the most experimental (and darkest at times), material I ever wrote, without compromise or a set plan. It contains all the elements of my music in a very unconscious free flow way. It’s the first album I wrote without knowing I was writing it, intrinsically linked to one of the hardest and yet more healing parts of my life.”
The depth and feeling of the sounds are unique and help transport the listener to the place necessary to understand and appreciate the meaning of their communicated emotional message.
“Dawn Tape”, has that familiar vinyl record scratch and static sound, on repeat. It is a warm reminder of the past. A slow and methodological opening, like the dawning of the sun. Warm and kind, with keyboards, guitar, stringed orchestration and repeating piano. Moody, yet full of life.
“Previous Tape”, is full of slow rising guitar and keyboards, complete with an almost typewriter sound in the background. Heavy strings and orchestration fill the soundscape, as deep chords hum all around. Very short, but magnificent.
“169th Tape”, almost has a Fantasia – like opening, coupled with heavy strings, keyboards and what sounds like someone moving around in an orchestra chair, on stage. Like a dreamscape from a recent memory.
“Unwound Tape”, is full of keyboard sounds from a foggy, dream-like state of being. Trying to cope with new realities amidst the background of warm memories.
“Departure Tape”, opens with far off vocals…like something out of The Lord of the Rings Soundtrack. It is brilliant and beckons us to the warming keyboards and melodies that follow. This is the longest track at over 16 minutes. It is full of wonder and an expansive universe of dreamtime. That is the wonder of Giancarlo’s music. It allows you, the listener, room to dream and think. What to think about, is the listeners’ choice. I have a feeling Giancarlo was looking to the past. The piano notes come labored, and with plenty of space in between, at the beginning. Later, the piano keys are coupled with strings, and become like rain, a pitter patter of keys falling down. Just an absolutely perfect transition and emotional effect. The piano keys are dark, with bits of light falling like flakes, to alter the pattern and feeling of the sound.
“A Blues for My Father”, is a sad, slow keyboard song, with slow electric guitar weeping in the background. It reminds me a little of George’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, full of powerful strings and moody bass complementing. A bold and strong remembrance for his father and all that he meant to Giancarlo.
Track List
- Dawn Tape – 6:15
- Previous Tape – 1:48
- 169th Tape – 2:51
- Unwound Tape – 8:22
- Departure Tape – 16:49
- A Blues for My Father – 7:31
This is a deep and reflective instrumental album which substitutes words for feelings in the rhythm and magic of the music itself. Departure Tapes, leaves us alone with our thoughts, on headphones, far from the madness of the modern world surrounding us. It allows us to be enraptured in the void of music without words, yet still full of meaning and feeling. Deep, intricate rhythms and themes that make us think of what we had, have and want for the future, if we use the time to appreciate our limitless and changing environment, and all that has come before.
Take the time, and purchase this album, and use it to escape the modern world for its duration of over a half hour, and give yourself the much-needed relief. Ponder your place in the universe, and how you will make the most of the time you have left.
https://kscopemusic.bandcamp.com/album/departure-tapes
https://twitter.com/giancarloerra?lang=en