- Andrea Ferraris (Ur, Deep end): guitar, piano.
- Lucia Krostopovic:piano;
- Simone Riva (Papyr Catastrophe): drums, percussions;
- Agostino Brambilla (Norm): bass;
- Stefano De Ponti (Passo Uno): guitar, field recordings.
- Deborah Arnold: voice.
Influences
New wave, electronic like Morr Music or early Warp, post rock... somebody said This Heat and Tortoise, someone else The Cure, Tuxedomoon or Piano Magic, maybe Labradford...
We like also experimental musics like Trapist, MB, Tasaday, Punck, 3/4HadBeenEliminated, Logoplasm, Fhievel, Luca Sigurta', Andrea Marutti, aal, Madame P. and other friends...
Sounds Like
In their album reviews they've been compared to a long and strange list of various musicians, including Sol Invictus, Rachel's, Björk, Piano Magic, Autechre, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Epic 45, King Crimson, Durutti Column, Massive Attack, Neu!, Pan American, Labradford, Tuxedomoon and even Pink Floyd (?)...
Sparkle in Grey began its musical activity as a solo electronic music project in 1999.
Since 2005 it has developed to a 4-member band devoted to a sort of electronic and eclectic post-rock. The world eclectic is related to the fact that they like to change from one genre to another, often collaborating with artists of various kinds. The core of the band has remained the same since 2006, with Matteo Uggeri (aka Hue, Der Einzige) on laptop, rhythms, trumpet and field recordings; poli-instrumentalist Cristiano Lupo (member of Norm, on drums, guitar, bass and glockenspiel); Alberto Carozzi (former member of Yakudoshi, guitar and bass); violin and piano player Franz Krostopovic (of Pulp-ito).
Many other musicians have collaborated with them, including the Italian maestro of industrial music Maurzio Bianchi/MB or - for instance and on the opposite ends - Simone Riva (ex-drummer of Italian pop singer Alex Baroni, who has recently passed away).
They have also remixed tracks of, or had tracks remixed by experimental artists such as OvO, Nicola Ratti and Telepherique, or by pop blockbusters such as Kiddycar and Micecars. Their latest album, "A Quiet Place", released in 2008 with the small cult label Disasters by Choice (Melodium, Rothko, Populous/Echoes of the Whales, Comaneci, Racoon) was recorded and mixed by Giuseppe Ielasi, who also mixed "México", recorded by former Disciplinatha singer, Cristiano Santini.
Despite the fact that they dress like tramps, one of their songs was unexpectedly chosen as soundtrack to an ad for Alviero Martini (www.alvieromartini.it).
Sparkle in Grey: A Quiet Place - CD by Disasters by Choice
Price 10 €
"One of the best experimental post-rock records of the last months… A Quiet Place: more and more and more." Giovanni Linke (Mucchio)
“A Quiet Place comes to a close with a dainty musical jewellery-box tune suggestive of innocence and peacefulness, a return to a dreamlike state within the arms of stillness [...] Yet despite their detail, they remain soft velvet hues of unimposing sound distilled with excellent musicianship." James Crossan (The Silent Ballet)
"Delusion Song: here’s an example of a perfect song." Renato Scuffietti (Radio Popolare)
“A blend of electronic and post-rock music, where the acoustics tune in perfectly with the crackling of electronics." Nicola Catalano (Battiti, Radio3)
“This instrumental record is one of the most touching and intense in this year’s experimental electronic panorama.” Giampaolo Cristofaro (Audiodrome)
“The music of Sparkle in Grey is always well balanced and extremely intense. “ Denis ‘Monopsone’ (Autres Directions)
" An original and positive energy [...] that echoes the Durutti Column style romantically, and then explodes in a free emotional cascade." Paolo Bertoni (Blow Up)
“A beautiful record, a must-have, made of sounds that must be listened to.” Marcello Consonni (Rockit.it)
“There is not single bit in this record that refers to a distinct model; the band avoids indulging in boring stereotypes or abused music genres.” Alessandro Biancalana (Onda Rock)
“Breathless moments of pure poetry emerge form a jumble of multi-faceted sounds.” Roberto Mandolini (Rockerilla)
“The profound bass-line and the classical violin have something in common with Tuxedomon, but Sparkle in Grey show they have already achieved a personal and very poetic style.” Vittore Baroni (Rumore)
“Nefelodhis: a timeless masterpiece.” Philippe Blache Progarchives)
figurati, il piacere è mio! Piuttosto, tienimi informato su vostre eventuali nuove mosse..
Marco non lo vedo spesso, comunque, quando sarà te lo saluterò di sicuro. Pur non conoscendo Gaia, e nonostante il poco che conosco Marco stesso, sono sicuro anch'io che si ricordi più di lei.
torba/M! self released cassette split! different colors on black tape. limited to 22 numbered copies. 5 euros shipping included. traders are welcome! ____________
Luke Lukas torna con un album carico di quella gioiosa malinconia che ci aveva già fatto innamorare di lui qualche tempo fa. Rinunciando al suo fedele 4 tracce, ci fa il prezioso dono di ben 12 pezzi folk dagli arrangiamenti sempre perfetti. Luke si rivela un animo gentile, ma come ogni film western ci ha insegnato, dietro l'aria pacata di ogni Texano si nasconde un terribile killer.
Nessuna anatra dai bordi pixelosi si salverà dalla sua terribile vendetta.
Daniele dice che gli ricorda i Neutral Milk hotel, ma con un piglio più vicino alle Chordettes
Ciao ragazzi! Grazie x la req (e complimenti!!! ;) A presto! S. (PS.: Eh, Matteo... Alessandro Sanna o più Spiegelman? ... Spiegelman è il mio preferito!!! ^____^ Comunque Sanna è bravissimo! ;D Ciauuuu...)
Thank you Sparkle in Grey. Your track is one of our favourites on the compilation, and we aren't just saying that! We should all keep in touch, be interesting to see what happens to us all. It's as though a family has been started... Thanks to Onga for that. Keep up the good work you are always welcome in the Forest of Dark. Wizards Tell Lies
