RIVERLIKE is Marco Pomelli's fourth album and his second project featuring exclusively his own compositions. Unlike his previous album, Lineature (2022), which consisted of ten short pieces forming a cohesive set, RIVERLIKE delves into more expansive and complex independent forms while still incorporating some extended techniques found in his earlier works, Lineature and Bartók 1926.
The album opens with the title track, divided into two parts. The first part features an ancient, forgotten melody from a Scottish island, accompanied by an evocative and ‘eternal’ sound, contrasting with the piano's natural tendency for its notes to fade. The second part is a ‘minimalist’ development of this theme, reaching several climaxes before returning to the original melody with the e-bow sound gradually fading into silence: "The sound flows from silence like water gushing from rocks, creating a continuous stream that leads to the vastness of the ocean".
Following this is SKY DANCER RITUAL, also split into two parts. The first part showcases an evolving form with virtuosic intensity, introduced by a new technique where a rapid four-note pattern is played with the right hand while the left hand presses and releases the corresponding strings in different ways, creating a percussive-melodic effect. The second part revisits this technique in a powerful, elevating finale. This piece was designed for live performance with a dancer representing the Dakini, a divine figure symbolizing the sacred feminine energy in Tibetan Buddhism, embodying change and the flow of energy towards enlightenment.
The album continues with Movements, framed by two brief pieces: Remains and Recall. Movements consists of variations developed from simple chords Marco had noted down years ago, forming a large narrative from these rediscovered elements.
RIVERLIKE aspires to be a Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art): Marco painted the album cover himself, aiming to visually capture the essence of the first two pieces.
Label: Con Fuoco Records
Sound Engineer and Producer: Federico Mattioli
“My album ‘Bartók 1926’ is a heartfelt homage to the remarkable ‘Piano Year’ in the musical journey of the Hungarian composer, presenting his visionary diptych: Piano Sonata Sz. 80 and Out of Doors Sz. 81. Alongside faithful performances of these two masterpieces, I've added my artistic flair by composing three ‘miniatures’ – a prelude, an interlude, and a postlude – inspired by Bartók's themes. Exploring percussive and suggestive extended techniques, my ’miniatures’ offer fresh and diverse perspectives on Bartók's aesthetics, inviting listeners to experience its intensity anew.”
Label: Stradivarius
Sound Engineer and Producer: Federico Mattioli
“‘Lineature’ unveils a sequence of ten composition-improvisations that navigate uncharted auditory landscapes. Within this musical voyage, I confidently embrace innovative extended techniques, orchestrating a deep interplay between the piano's conventional resonance and audacious tonal solutions extracted from my ventures within its inner mechanics. This collection signifies an intimate exploration, a conduit for forging a profound rapport with my instrument. It encapsulates an intimate relationship, beckoning performers and listeners alike to engage in a mysterious connection where sonic boundaries dissolve, revealing a musical narrative etched within the piano's very essence.”
Distributed by Gateway Music
Sound Engineer and Producer: Federico Mattioli
“In 2020, which marked the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, I released the album 'Beethoven: Eroica Variations' as a tribute to his incredible talent. This album is my way of honoring his legacy by bringing to the forefront a masterpiece that often goes unnoticed, despite its bold musical ideas and groundbreaking sounds for its time. Among Beethoven's wide-ranging works, the 'Eroica Variations' shine as a hidden gem.”
Sound Engineer and Producer: Federico Mattioli