Regular Columnists

Artist: Gozzolop
Album: Gozzolop [2006]
Website: http://www.gozzolop.com
Genre: Ambient
Production/Musicianship Grade: 9/10
Songwriting Skills: 8/10
Performance Skill: 8.5/10
CD Review:

Almost every music lover you speak to will tell you that there are particular albums that form the line-up of the soundtracks to certain parts of their life. It reflects the emotions they’re going through, the ups and downs, and everything in between. It’s personal and emotional and isn’t always understood by others. Gozzolop’s debut release is a soundtrack in much the same way – except for the fact it could very well be considered the soundtrack for the imagination.

Multi-instrumentalist Kentaro, who blends the worlds of electronica with elements of spacey-toytronica, leads Gozzolop through a voyage of melodic experimentation. Oozing synthesized sounds, underneath its surface floats downtempo and chill-out grooves that are invitingly welcoming to cozy up to.

With its warm production touches and minimalist experimentalism in tracks such as Line, hauntingly beautiful synth lines weave together a continual flow of childlike imagery and psychedelic acid trips. This combination of quirky sounds and suave production lands the disc in the musical territory that feels both innovative and familiar.

The blend of electronic frolics heads into the territory of the holiday bell sounds fused with a drum’n’bass feel in Undercover. Shimmering in a charming ethereal originality all its own, other tracks like The Peep of Day gain energy as spacey guitar lines graft a beautiful chiming melody to pulsating organic grooves.

The frenetic programming does eventually stumble over its own feet, for example, the primitive acid house textures of Weird seem out of place. Maybe it’s in its overabundance of seemingly wandering and unfocussed trails of musical thought, but its influence carries over into synth orchestra that makes an appearance in I’ll Pass. (Just let the title speak for itself).

This album is a fine mix of the electronic and organic sounds that showcases some pretty ear-bending conjunctions. Standout tracks like Lines and Nuclear teeter between dark and twisted flights of synthesized fancy. You may want to reconsider sitting alone in a dark room when listening – but if you do drowse off, it’ll definitely colour your thoughts and dreams in a way you may never have experienced before.




The Verdict: 8.5/10

For more information, please contact Gozzolop at contact@gozzolop.com

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