Born from the need to explore the human community as a constantly evolving stream of consciousness, and the need to dive in it, through Cardone’s personal view of the present, SHIRAGAKI, the solo project from Italian artist Franz Cardone (bass player for Italian psychedelic band SHERPA) explores ambient, IDM and contemporary music’s world, pushing the boundaries of the electric bass’ conventional use. Today, we’re pleased to give you his new single “Instant Travelling”, a mysterious, eerie opener to his new album “Planetes“.
PLANETES is a concept album containing a series of realities related to the future of the human beings, sound images that describes the relationship between inner human feelings and its physical and spiritual environment.
““Instant Travelling” is a song about a series of dream life images in relation to human beings’ inner reality.” – says Franz. “It was created overlapping various sound layers, all of them played with bass guitar (a 4 string Zon Hyperbass). The main inspiration sources for this track are David Sylvian, Massive Attack, Nine Inch Nails, How to Destroy Angels.”
Asked about his plans for 2021, SHIGARAKI saus that he’s about to complete two albums, one as “Shigaraki” and the other one in collaboration with Globster, a DJ and artist from his hometown, Pescara. “Both works will be released in late 2021.” – he reveals. “At the same time I’m working on the visual aspect, searching for a better way to mix it with music, two sides of art which both shape my personality.”
Speaking about his top records of the year, Franz shares that in 2020, two artists caught his attention.
“Yaeji with her debut album “What We Drew”, for its essential style which crosses boudaries of pop music towards a more experimental field, and Amnesia Scanner with “Lexachast” in collaboration with Bill Kouligas, a surprising album for its multiple influences, all combined in a very precise style.”
“Other artists which I already knew who released albums in my opinion worth mentioning are Autechre with “SIGN” and “PLUS” and Oneohtrix Point Never with “Magic OPN”.”
Top 7 records that inspired Shigaraki’s new album “PLANETES”:
Kuttel Im Frost – Hirsche Nicht Aufs Sofa
Async, Chasm – Ryuichi Sakamoto
Mezzanine – Massive Attack
Before And After Science – Brian Eno
Blemish – David Sylvian
Sensuous – Cornelius
Top Records of the Year so far:
Plus – Autechre
Magic Oneohtrix Point Never – Oneohtrix Point Never
10 essential tracks to step into Shigaraki’s World:
Blemish, The Heart Knows Better – David Sylvian
World Citizen/I Won’t Be Disappointed (looped piano) – Ryuichi Sakamoto/David Sylvian
Surripere, Carefree Counter Dronal – Autechre
Virta 1, Suhteellinen – Pan Sonic
In An Autumn Garden For Gagaku Orchestra – Toru Takemitsu
1992 – Blur
The Overload – Talking Heads
10 essential albums that shaped Shigaraki’s sound research:
Chasm, Async – Ryuichi Sakamoto
Blemish – David Sylvian
Before And After Science – Brian Eno
13 – Blur
Big Fun – Miles Davis
Draft 7.30, Untilted – Autechre
Katodivaihe, Gravitoni – Pan Sonic
7 things that shaped the Shigaraki project:
Shigaraki, a small town in Japan renowned for its amazing pottery artists
Ancient Esoteric Christianity
“Planetes” a manga by Makoto Yukimura
“BLAME!” a manga by Tsutomu Nihei
“Stalker” a movie By Andreij Tarkovskij
“Kwaidan” a movie by Masaki Kobaiyashi
Life after death / Life before birth
