Periodica Records continue their retro-futurist quest on Somachrome's 'Electro Romantica'
The Napoli-based collective maintain their immaculate, funk-flecked standard
The West Hill gang return with the latest in their impeccably presented release series, this time offering a slick collaboration between Raffaele 'Whodamanny' Arcella and Luca 'Bop' Affatato. The label routinely supply funk-flecked electro futurist jams with an unmistakable Italo sensibility – with music that is at once deliciously retro-leaning while refreshingly forward-facing – and 'Electro Romantica' continues in this alluring vein.
We've long admired the work of Whodamanny, both as a solo artist and as a Mystic Jungle Tribe team player alongside Dario Di Pace – with whom he also combined on last year’s Magnificent Afrodesia project via Best Records. Affatato, meanwhile, has released a string of colourful releases, some of which arriving via Quiroga's Really Swing imprint. Joining forces under the Somachrome flag, the pair offer a glorious disco amalgam of new wave, electro, and post-punk, composed and executed with all the cosmic alchemy we've come to expect from Periodica.
The expansive EP journeys via the hyper-atmospheric lead, pulsing bass and space-age sweeps of the title track into the effervescent robot funk of 'Vague Computers'. Next, we arrive in the amped-up deviance of 'Outrun Disaster' before heading on into the quick-fire harmonics of 'Operator Love'. The energy level continues to rise thanks to the rousing vivacity of 'Creatures Of My World' – where ultra-infectious staccato synths join irresistible leads, dramatic chords and honeyed vocoder combine for a rousing dancer's fervour. Finally, the EP closes in bewitching mood with’ W.O.T.O.S’., where soul-enriching synths, low-slung bass and almighty leads powering us far into the stratosphere to admire the full panorama of a sunset from outer space.
Infinite love to the Periodica massive.
Somachrome's 'Electro Romantica' is out now, you can buy it here or via the player above
