“Impressions / I Am Thousands” is the new release from Berlin-based electronic producer and multi-instrumentalist sUb_modU, aka the brainchild of Italian Romeo Sandri. Both songs form part of the jazz musician’s debut album ‘Descent To The Centre’, a record that is an autobiographical and existentialist account of oneself, blending the electric/psychedelic spectrum of jazz with house, avant-garde and ambient leanings.
Following on from “Pidgin Synths EP”, a releases that entangled a homage to afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti with synth-heavy original material, sUb_modU has amassed an impressive list of tastemaker support through his unique reinterpations, from the likes of Gilles Peterson (BBC 6Music), Ross Allen (NTS) and Virgil Abloh (Off White). Alongside the release of his debut album is a special edition, double A side single, 7” featuring an exclusive 45 Centre Edit of the iconic “Expensive Shit” paired with a sUb_modu original “RAM Generation”.
The first taster of the record, “Impressions” is an empty canvas inspired by live recordings of Miles Davis, from the psychedelic period (late 60s, mid 70s). Romeo uses dilated and spacious compositions against a background of percussion to thread a narrative of his own impressions and interactions with nature through the use of the soprano saxophone. “I Am Thousands” is the result of electronic experimentation, while exploring the fragmented self and the ephemeral complexities of life; “there are many aspects of myself that need to be taken care of, as there are thousands of me” Romeo explains.
‘Descent To The Centre’ is the result of a natural process, a concept of allowing musical passions to flow organically in the midst of Romeo’s daily experiences. In the words of the artist “it’s about the direction towards the centre, finding the nature within me, at my inner core. As astronomers say “we are all made from stardust” – we are all interconnected to the universe, this makes me feel inconsequential while simultaneously part of something immense.”
Out 22nd July via Tru Thoughts, order your copy here.
Born and raised in Aosta, a small tourist town in the Alps, this beautiful hometown of outstanding nature and mountain ranges acted as a catalyst for Romeo’s musical ambitions, creating a wanderlust to go beyond these borders. Studying classical music as a child and citing listening to Symphony no.6 by Tchaikovsky as a pivotal movement in his musical development, for Romeo music is simply “food for the soul”.
sUb_modU is influenced by an array of music such as 60s/70s electric/psychedelic jazz, productions from the electronic kraut period (Tangerine Dream), Detroit & Chicago House, avant-garde & free jazz, soul, black music, hip-hop, ambient music, Sam Gendel, Jeff Parker, Gill Scott Heron reimagined by Makaya McCraven, the list goes on… sUb_modU has previously released on BBE and Agogo Records, collaborated with Matteo Cigna in a Roman Amphitheatre, toured around Europe with various projects and performed at Jazz Re:found, Chamoisic, Apolide and Nylon festival. ‘Descent To The Centre’ sees sUb_modU push the boat out to glorious new extremes, an ambitious project from the avant-garde newcomer that is rooted in jazz standards.