Jia Lissa
The recent collaborative album "Seismo," a profound sonic exploration by Dutch producer upsammy (Thessa Torsing) and London-based, Bari-born drummer Valentina Magaletti, has rapidly positioned itself as a significant release within the contemporary leftfield music landscape. Garnering immediate critical attention, the project is celebrated for its innovative fusion of electronic textures, intricate percussion, and the evocative incorporation of found sounds, largely recorded within the distinctive environment of the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam. This ambitious work not only showcases the individual prowess of two highly regarded artists but also exemplifies a growing trend in music where creative boundaries are dissolved, and unconventional spaces become integral to the artistic process.
A Confluence of Avant-Garde Talents
The collaboration between upsammy and Valentina Magaletti is particularly noteworthy given their individual trajectories and shared commitment to pushing experimental sonic frontiers. Both artists have established formidable reputations for their versatility and willingness to traverse diverse musical territories, making their joint venture a potent synergy of rhythmic dexterity and electronic craftsmanship.
Valentina Magaletti: The Rhythmic Alchemist
Valentina Magaletti has emerged as one of the most compelling and sought-after percussionists in the experimental music scene today. Her name, as noted by critics, has become ubiquitous across a myriad of projects, a testament to her profound talent and remarkable adaptability. Born in Bari, Italy, and currently based in London, Magaletti possesses a unique percussive vocabulary that transcends traditional drumming. Her approach is characterized by an insatiable curiosity for sound, often incorporating unconventional objects, extended techniques, and a deeply intuitive sense of rhythm that allows her to navigate genres as disparate as experimental rock, free improvisation, dub, industrial, and various forms of electronic music.
Magaletti’s extensive discography includes work with acclaimed ensembles and artists such as Tomaga, Vanishing Twin, CZN, Moin, and collaborations with figures like Thurston Moore and Marlene Ribeiro. Across these diverse settings, she consistently demonstrates an ability to adapt her percussive style, whether it’s through driving, motorik rhythms, subtle textural embellishments, or explosive, improvisational bursts. Her drumming is not merely about keeping time; it is about sculpting sound, creating intricate narratives, and interacting with the sonic environment in a truly dynamic fashion. Her ability to "shed her skin" across genres speaks to a deep understanding of musical language and an impressive technical command that allows her to contribute distinctively to any sonic context. For "Seismo," she is noted for slipping on her "electronic gloves," hinting at a further integration of her acoustic sensibilities with synthesized sounds.
upsammy: Architect of Sonic Landscapes
Thessa Torsing, known by her moniker upsammy, is a Dutch producer who has carved out a significant niche in the electronic music world. Her work is celebrated for its intricate sound design, textural richness, and an often-ethereal quality that belies its rhythmic complexity. upsammy’s productions typically inhabit the spaces between ambient, IDM (Intelligent Dance Music), experimental techno, and electroacoustic composition, demonstrating a similar penchant for genre fluidity as Magaletti.
upsammy has released critically acclaimed material on prestigious labels such as Dekmantel, Nous’Klaer Audio, and Trilogy Tapes. Her music is characterized by its meticulous attention to detail, often featuring evolving sonic ecosystems built from shimmering synthesizers, subtly shifting rhythms, and found sounds that contribute to a deeply immersive listening experience. She is renowned for her ability to "spin multiple plates," seamlessly blending disparate elements into cohesive and captivating sonic narratives. Her previous works have explored themes of natural environments, digital abstraction, and the interplay between organic and synthetic textures, making her an ideal partner for a project that deliberately blurs the lines between acoustic and electronic, and between a physical space and its sonic interpretation.
The Genesis of "Seismo": A Museum Transformed
The creation of "Seismo" marks a pivotal moment in the careers of both artists, not least because of its unique recording environment. The album was largely conceived and recorded within the hallowed halls of the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, an architectural and cultural institution that profoundly shaped the project’s sonic identity.
The Boijmans Van Beuningen as Catalyst
The Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, one of the oldest and most prominent art museums in the Netherlands, boasts a diverse collection spanning from medieval to contemporary art, including significant works by Dutch Masters, Surrealists, and modern artists. Its architecture, characterized by varying room sizes, materials, and historical periods, offers a rich tapestry of acoustic possibilities and environmental textures. The decision to record "Seismo" within this specific cultural landmark was not merely a logistical choice but a conceptual one, aiming to imbue the music with the very essence of its surroundings.
The museum’s "maze of rooms," as described, became more than just a recording studio; it became an active participant in the creative process. The unique reverberations of its galleries, the subtle hums and creaks of its structure, and the potential for interaction with its artifacts and empty spaces offered an unparalleled palette for sound design. This approach aligns with a growing movement in contemporary art and music that seeks to activate non-traditional spaces, transforming them into dynamic platforms for artistic expression and challenging conventional notions of performance and production. By choosing the Boijmans van Beuningen, Magaletti and Torsing effectively created a "living artefact," where the act of creation was inextricably linked to the historical and architectural context.
From Found Sounds to Sonic Narratives
The recording process for "Seismo" was a meticulous undertaking, deeply informed by the chosen environment. The artists harnessed a wealth of "found sounds" from within the museum, integrating them with Magaletti’s distinct mallet percussion and upsammy’s intricate electronic manipulations. This methodology of field recording and site-specific sound capture allowed them to weave the museum’s sonic footprint directly into the fabric of the album. Imagine the echoes bouncing off vast gallery walls, the resonant tones of various materials (stone, wood, glass), or the subtle ambience of an empty exhibition space being meticulously captured and then processed through electronic means.
The combination of Magaletti’s percussive contributions, ranging from precise mallet work to more experimental textures, with upsammy’s synthesized sounds and arrangements, reached what has been described as "highly flammable levels of sorcery." This phrase aptly captures the potent and transformative nature of their collaboration, where distinct elements are not simply layered but transmuted into something entirely new and compelling. The integration of found sounds with traditional and non-traditional instrumentation creates a sense of spatial depth and narrative coherence, guiding the listener through an imagined journey within the museum’s labyrinthine interior.
Unpacking the Sonics: A Deep Dive into "Seismo"
"Seismo" is an album that demands active listening, rewarding the audience with layers of sonic detail and emotional resonance. The initial descriptions highlight specific tracks and broader stylistic approaches, providing a glimpse into the album’s rich tapestry.
Electroacoustic IDM and Beyond
The track "It Comes To An End" is identified as a prime example of "electroacoustic IDM." This classification points to a fusion of intricate electronic rhythms and melodic structures characteristic of Intelligent Dance Music, combined with elements derived from acoustic sources. In this context, Magaletti’s percussive contributions likely play a significant role, perhaps providing organic, unpredictable rhythms that interlock with upsammy’s precise electronic programming. The "electroacoustic" aspect suggests a sophisticated interplay where acoustic sounds are not merely sampled but are integrated into the electronic framework, sometimes processed beyond recognition, at other times retaining their raw, natural character. This creates a sonic landscape that feels both familiar and alien, grounded in the physical world yet soaring into abstract digital realms. The emotional depth often found in IDM, characterized by introspection and melancholic beauty, is likely amplified by the organic textures and the inherent humanity of Magaletti’s percussion.
Another piece, "Thickness of Signs," is described as featuring "whirring music boxes." This detail suggests a more delicate, perhaps haunting, side to the album. Music boxes, with their fragile, often nostalgic melodies, can evoke a sense of childhood, memory, or even a subtle unease. When combined with "whirring" elements, which could imply mechanical sounds, electronic effects, or even processed field recordings, the track likely creates a delicate yet unsettling atmosphere. This contrast between the precise, almost childlike innocence of a music box and the potentially distorted or industrial "whirring" would contribute to the album’s overall sense of dynamic tension and sonic exploration. Such elements demonstrate the artists’ mastery of mood and texture, capable of shifting from rhythmic intensity to introspective delicacy.
The album’s title, "Seismo," which derives from the Greek word for "earthquake" or "tremor," further enriches its conceptual framework. This suggests a project that might explore themes of disruption, subtle shifts, foundational movements, or the resonant impact of sound itself. The sonic twists and turns of the album could be interpreted as mirroring the geological forces of an earthquake – moments of quiet tension building to sudden, impactful releases, or the subtle vibrations that precede a larger event. This metaphor extends to the "maze of rooms" within the museum, where each sonic event or textural shift could represent a new discovery, a hidden passage, or a momentary disorientation within the larger sonic architecture.
The Metaphor of the "Maze of Rooms"
The album’s structure and sonic narrative are said to "deftly mirror back the ‘maze of rooms’ in which this living artefact was made." This conceptual underpinning is crucial to understanding "Seismo." It implies that the listening experience is designed to be akin to navigating a complex, multi-faceted space. Each track, or even sections within tracks, could represent a different room or corridor, offering distinct acoustic properties, emotional atmospheres, and textural palettes.
Listeners might perceive shifts in reverb, changes in spatial imaging, or the sudden appearance of specific found sounds that evoke a sense of moving through different environments. The integration of acoustic and electronic elements, alongside the carefully curated found sounds, creates a three-dimensional soundscape that invites exploration. This immersive quality transforms passive listening into an active journey, allowing the audience to engage with the music as if traversing the very spaces that inspired its creation. The "maze" metaphor also suggests a non-linear experience, where pathways might converge, diverge, or lead to unexpected sonic revelations, reflecting the unpredictable nature of an art museum’s layout and its curated narratives.
Critical Acclaim and Broader Implications
The immediate positive reception of "Seismo" underscores its significance not just as a standalone artistic achievement but also as a bellwether for broader trends in contemporary music. The album’s innovative approach to collaboration, its unique recording methodology, and its profound sonic depth position it as a benchmark for experimental releases.
Redefining Collaborative Boundaries
"Seismo" stands as a powerful testament to the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between artists from different but complementary musical backgrounds. Magaletti, primarily an acoustic percussionist who frequently incorporates electronics, and upsammy, an electronic producer deeply invested in organic textures, find common ground in their shared pursuit of novel sound. Their partnership demonstrates that truly innovative music often arises from the intersection of diverse expertise, where each artist pushes the other beyond their conventional comfort zones. This project is a model for how dialogue between acoustic and electronic disciplines can yield rich, complex, and emotionally resonant results, blurring the lines between traditional instrumentation and digital sound manipulation. It encourages other artists to look beyond conventional pairings and embrace the unexpected.
The Evolving Role of Spaces in Music Production
The decision to record "Seismo" largely within the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen carries significant implications for the future of music production. It challenges the traditional studio environment as the sole locus of musical creation, advocating for a more integrated, site-specific approach. By transforming a cultural institution into a temporary recording studio, Magaletti and upsammy demonstrate the untapped potential of public and architectural spaces as active contributors to artistic output. This methodology not only enriches the sonic palette with unique acoustic properties and environmental textures but also imbues the music with a sense of place and narrative depth that would be difficult to replicate in a sterile studio setting. This approach aligns with a broader movement in contemporary art and sound design that emphasizes the importance of context, environment, and immersion in the creative process. It highlights how the physical world can serve as an inexhaustible source of inspiration and sonic material, pushing artists to engage more deeply with their surroundings.
Looking Ahead: The Enduring Resonance of "Seismo"
"Seismo" is more than just an album; it is a meticulously crafted sonic experience that invites listeners to reconsider the boundaries of genre, instrumentation, and recording environments. It is a testament to the creative synergy between Valentina Magaletti and upsammy, two artists who are consistently at the forefront of experimental music. The project’s success is likely to inspire further explorations into site-specific recordings and interdisciplinary collaborations, solidifying its place as an influential work within the avant-garde music canon. As audiences continue to seek out unique and immersive listening experiences, "Seismo" offers a compelling example of how artistic vision, technical mastery, and a deep engagement with the environment can coalesce to produce something truly extraordinary and enduring. Its sonic "tremors" are set to resonate within the experimental music scene for years to come.
