Perugia based netlabel, Acustronica, specialises in instrumental electo-acoustic and ambient sounds from Italian and international artists. Germany's Martin Lowack fits in with this remit while also adding a strong 1970s smooth jazz flavour.
His debut album for the label features 15 tracks of laid back electro-funk in which Lowack utilises what he calls his "personal orchestra" of Macbook, synth and programmed piano and drum-edits. The electric guitar is the only analog instrument.
Track titles like Chill Boy, Cool Day and California Dreamin' give notice that a good fifty per cent of this record is designed to be heard in a relaxed setting, ideally with mood lighting, a cocktail in hand and a girl by your side (you can dream!).
But as if to sabotage this chilled 'slow drive' feel, the tabla effects on Indian Summer, Evening and BollyMood signal an exotic global flavour while for Thunderbirds and Overmezzo the grooves get deeper and muddier. Add to this the cheesy synth effects of the title track and the overall effect gets a little confusing.
For instance, just when you're resigned to this being a purely instrumental record, up pops the sultry voice of Magda Glocka for a couple of tracks. On Play All Day, she gives the song a sultry feel, purring "Why don't we stay in bed one day" over incongruously frenetic beats. This is followed by the more mellow, late night atmosphere of Melting Point.
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With a journey time of over 70 minutes, the record would have a tighter, more dynamic feel if it had been trimmed by about 15 minutes and if greater care had been placed on the sequencing.
As it is, the impression is that Lowack doesn't want his listeners getting too comfortable so, like an erratic Sunday driver, he alternates between applying the brakes and hitting the gas - a formula more designed to cause travel sickness than light relief.
Acustronica label website
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