Soul Of An Octopus, by O.R.k

Soul Of An Octopus

by O.R.k

supported by

Derek Scholten Its really cool. Very different. It definitely rocks

Frank Hadlich As crazy as ever! Favorite track: Till The Sunrise Comes.

Dr. "Buzz" Frenzy (Matthew J Hesse) thumbnail

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Includes unlimited streaming of Soul Of An Octopus via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Too Numb 03:54	buy track
2.	Collapsing Hopes 04:38	buy track
3.	Searching For The Code 04:02	buy track
4.	Dirty Rain 05:06	buy track
5.	Scarlet Water 04:13	buy track
6.	Heaven Proof House 04:25	buy track
7.	Just Another Bad Day 04:10	buy track
8.	Capture Or Reveal 04:48	buy track
9.	Till The Sunrise Comes 05:20	buy track

about

Because of the presence of drummer Mastelloto, it would be easy to draw comparisons to King Crimson for this project. (The opener “Too Numb” in particular has a kind of Discipline vibe in its interlocking ostinatos that create a hypnotic latticework pattern against Fornasari’s menacing vocals). One can also hear traces of such artistically inclined groups as Pink Floyd in ambitious tunes like “Scarlet Water,” “Just Another Bad Day” and the extraordinary “Capture or Reveal.”
But O.R.l. draws on a myriad of other influences throughout Soul of an Octopus that encompass prog-rock, free jazz and even bits of opera, as can be heard in Fornasari’s dramatic and wide-ranging vocals on tunes like the intense closer “Till the Sunrise Comes” and the epic 40-minute suite “Dirty Rain.” Says the native of Bologna, Italy, “I got a degree as opera singer, but when it comes to my music I try to forget what I've been taught. When I find myself working on new material I prefer to improvise and sing without thinking what to do or where to head to, at least that's what I do in first place.”

On the extreme opposite end of the dynamic scale from the operative sweep that he delivers throughout Soul of an Octopus, Fornasari takes a more intimate, close-mic approach at the outset of the poetic “Heaven Proof House,” recalling the enigmatic whisper vocals of the late Leonard Cohen. “Since I think at myself as a composer and producer first and then as vocalist, I get my brain to rethink the whole structure and listen to my vocals as a producer would do,” he explains. “I tend to give my vocals the same importance I'd give to any of the other instruments composing the whole structure.”

Innovative Italian guitarist Pipitone is prominently featured on “Collapsing Heroes,” which opens with some gutbucket acoustic blues guitar and gradually builds to a slamming wah-wah fueled six-string onslaught. Says Fornasari of his O.R.k. bandmate, “Carmelo has received multiple awards from music Italian critics because of the way he plays acoustic guitar. He makes his strings bark and scream like the most ferocious electric piece of guitar and a second later he makes you cry with the most intense clean arpeggio. The very first time I've seen him playing with his other band Marta Sui Tubi — they’re quite famous in Italy — I thought, ‘Hey! I want to make some noise with this crazy horse!’ And here we are.”

Fornasari further describes the process that he and his O.R.k. bandmates took on this RareNoise release: “We usually start the process from guitar or bass riffs, I assemble a rough structure and send it over to the other guys. This collaborative back-and-forth process across the miles is very effective in our case. Nonetheless, it usually takes weeks or even months before a piece gets to its final shape. We don't follow any pre-defined plan though. One of the most intriguing elements in music is the most unpredictable too — once you release new stuff you never know how people will react and interpret your sound and words.”

While Fornasari has also been involved in other projects for RareNoise Records (he was on Owls’ 2011 release, The Night Stays, Berserk’s self-titled 2013 debut and Obake’s 2015 release Mutations), he considers O.R.k. to be the focus of his artistic endeavors right now. “I love Berserk! and Owls but I see them as collaborative side projects while O.R.k. is actually my main band. It’s the one which best represents my vision in music and the one I'm dedicating most of my of time and energy to.”

Fornasari clearly poured his heart and soul and all of his energy in this band. If you can’t catch O.R.k. in action live, check out their imposing sophomore release, Soul of an Octopus, which stands as one of the more intensely compelling recordings in the RareNoise roster.

credits

released February 24, 2017

Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari (LEF): Voice, keys, guitars
Carmelo Pipitone: electric and acoustic guitars
Colin Edwin: electric fretted and fretless basses
Pat Mastelotto: Acoustic and Electronic Drums and Percussion

Produced by LEF
Mixed by Marc Urselli

All tracks composed by LEF, Carmine Pipitone, Colin Edwin and Pat Mastelotto
All words by Colin Edwin and LEF

Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtletone Studios, NYC

Soul Of An Octopus

1. Too Numb
2. Collapsing Hopes
3. Searching For The Code
4. Dirty Rain
5. Scarlet Water
6. Heaven Proof House
7. Just Another Bad Day
8. Capture Or Reveal
9. Till The Sunrise Comes

© + ℗ RareNoiseRecords 2017

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about

Pat Mastelotto Dripping Springs, Texas

Pat Mastelotto is an American rock drummer and record producer who has worked with King Crimson, Mr. Mister, XTC, The Rembrandts, and many others.

patmastelotto.com

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Aug 2

The Ardmore Music Hall

Ardmore, PA

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