Massimo Pirotta (Vorrei.org) — Feb 1, 2016
"Spannung possesses a key that opens multiple doors... and gives form and substance to new shapes of sonic life. A logical thread, equilibrium, and taste for risk..."
RDM Records
2/1/20162 min read
An amazon and her courage. Red, blue, and black—three discs in which to place all of her own ego, existence, being. Defying market rules in which everything is ground down too hastily, Spannung has had a long gestation (starting from 2009) and from it has sprouted a work of research of impeccable output and a path highly suggestive and full of surprises.
31 'situationist' tracks, in which the artist shows enormous composite capacity, a vocalism far from the ordinary, and which put together are the best grasp of that which can be created outside of canonical schemes. Her delivery is rooted deeply within the absolute lineage of historical vocal performance, techno-aesthetic research, and the unbridled impulses of a classic blues delivery that is both thoughtful yet lucid. As if this were not enough, alongside her activity as a singer and musician, there is to underscore the pairing of this with her activity as a writer. High themes and great care even for the smallest of details. Already ready and of imminent publication is Voce Sola, saggio intorno al discorso vocale, her new book.
And there is even a proximate past of which to go proud and with a high head: in 2005 with Diffrazioni Sonore she won the Demetrio Stratos International Prize for vocal research. In 2008 it was the turn of Aisthànomai, her second disc, in which the imperative is always that of experimenting and of dazzling. Between 2010 and 2011 she delivered to the presses the collection Poesie 1995-2005 (in a bilingual edition) and other writings... All of this, without neglecting in any way a wide concert activity (not solely in Italy), entering into sinuous repertoires of blues and rhythm and blues. In short, Romina Daniele is a portent, an artist to whom difficultly could pass through the head the desire to settle upon the already done and already heard.
Spannung possesses a key that opens multiple doors (interior and exterior) and gives form and substance to new shapes of sonic life. A logical thread, equilibrium, and taste for risk, stability, and an attitude that has high profile as its ultimate goal. Spannung is completely another matter (a perfect number?), a triple CD, three hours of music that requires attentive and multiple listenings. It is not the usual routine, because the poetry that emanates from it is entirely subterranean and stands in the capacity of the listener to know how to gather it and savor it.
Impossible to remain indifferent to the centrifugal readings of 'Summertime' (George Gershwin), 'Sycamore Trees' (Angelo Badalamenti & David Lynch), 'Special Delivery Blues' (Odetta Holmes). Impossible not to be emotional in the primary approaches of 'Dasein' and in the glove of challenge of over twenty minutes of 'La natura assente.' Blue-tinged heart, electronic 'scientific' voice that is an integral and highly original songbook. Dazzling, in short, and how beautiful it would be to see her tested with the music of animated cartoons. I threw it out there. Vote: 9.5 [Massimo Pirotta with Vorrei.org]
